Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people each year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help prevent or delay the development of the disease. It’s also important to be aware of the symptoms to know what’s wrong and seek 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 isn’t able to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. People with type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can cause issues with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It may also damage your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. The destruction can take place over months or even years, eventually leading to the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes all day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their food, insulin and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body is not functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers need to treat their diabetes by consuming a balanced diet and exercise. They may also have to take medication to regulate their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects all races, ethnic groups, ages, and genders. Women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) 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 bloodstream and kidneys are unable to filter it out.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is usually because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This results in elevated blood sugar levels. Your body will then try to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and need to drink plenty of fluids.
The men may also lose weight since their bodies rely on muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is because their blood sugar levels stay high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage your weight and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
You should include whole food items in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products such as beans, legumes, and beans are good choices. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might also want to limit the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. These drinks usually contain a lot of sugar in them and can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within an acceptable range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes, such as exercising and diet to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled by one medicine another medicine could be added. Your doctor will assist you pick the best medication for your preferences and needs.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They’re also helpful for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.