Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions each year. It occurs when the body is unable to make enough insulin or use the insulin that it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can all help in preventing or delaying the development of the disease. It is also essential to know the symptoms, to determine whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or isn’t able to properly use it.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it properly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels can become too high in time. This can cause problems in the feet, eyes, and kidneys. It could also cause damage to blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease and means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The destruction can take place over many months or even years and eventually lead to a complete lack of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also have to keep track of their blood glucose levels and adjust the insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body may not use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races and ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. Women are more susceptible than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for women with diabetes. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your blood, and your kidneys cannot filter it out.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
In diabetes it is when cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is usually because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. The body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes typically have a thirsty feeling and must drink large amounts of fluids. This can be up to four liters per day.
Men can also experience weight loss because their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help control blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products, beans, and legumes are excellent choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might need to limit your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain a lot of sugar in them which can result in elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes, such as exercising and diet to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled by one medicine another medicine could be added. Your doctor will assist you determine the most appropriate medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the chance of developing complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.