Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it’s not able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the progression of the disease. It’s important to be aware of the symptoms to be able to tell whether something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or fails to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t use it properly.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause issues with your feet, eyes and kidneys. It could also cause damage to coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease, meaning that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. The destruction can take place over months or even years and eventually lead to the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by those who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also have to keep track of their blood glucose levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body does not use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which can then be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also have to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to experience complications, including heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
One of the early signs of diabetes in women is increased thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and your kidneys aren’t able to remove it correctly.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
In diabetes the cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is usually due to the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. The body tries to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes typically experience thirst and require to drink large quantities of fluids, as much as 4 liters a day.
Men may also lose weight as their bodies use muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar, manage your weight, and lower the risk of developing heart disease.
Your diet should consist of a wide range 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 need to limit the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks are typically high in sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes such as exercise and diet to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being adequately controlled with one medication, you might need to add a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to choose the best medication for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose inhibitors that lower blood sugar levels, offer cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.