Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when the body fails to make enough insulin or utilize the insulin it has effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It’s also crucial to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell if something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects the way your body turns food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin, or fails to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can lead to problems with your eyes, feet and kidneys. It can also damage the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease which means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. The destruction can happen over many months or even years, eventually resulting in a complete lack of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activities to maintain their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body is not using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it is utilized to generate energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes must treat their condition by eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. However, women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One of the early warning signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your blood and your kidneys are not able to eliminate it.
Diabetes in men Men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is usually because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. The body then attempts to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People who have diabetes often feel thirsty and need to drink large quantities of fluids, up to four liters daily.
Men may also lose weight as their bodies use muscle for energy rather than fat. This is because their blood sugar levels remain elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, manage your weight, and lower the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and low-fat dairy. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might also consider limiting the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks are usually high in sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes, like exercise and diet to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels are not well controlled with one medication, you may require a second medication. Your doctor can help you select the right medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.