Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition which affects millions of people every year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does produce effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can aid in preventing or reducing the onset of the disease. It’s also crucial to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell the signs of a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting), which impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, or fails to use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, which is known as glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to make it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can lead to issues with your eyes, kidneys and feet. 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 and means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. The destruction can take place over months or even years until it eventually leads to the total absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used to create energy.
People with type 2 diabetes have to manage their condition by eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. They may also have to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
It is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. However women are at higher risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, like heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women with diabetes. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in your blood and your kidneys aren’t equipped to remove it correctly.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
In diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is typically because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This results in elevated blood sugar levels. Your body then attempts to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes typically have a thirsty feeling and must drink large quantities of fluids. It can be as much as four liters per day.
Men may be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is because blood sugar levels remain high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar, manage your weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should include plenty of whole food items, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might also want to limit the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. These drinks typically contain plenty of sugar and can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not well controlled with one medication, you might need to add a second medication. Your doctor will assist you to choose the best medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, offer kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.