Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help prevent or delay the onset of the disease. It’s also crucial to be aware of the symptoms so you can tell if something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health issue that affects the way your body transforms food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin, or fails to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, which is known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin, or their bodies can’t utilize it correctly.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can cause problems with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It could also harm the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks the insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. This destruction can happen over months or years before eventually resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each 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 have type 2 diabetes your body may not use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells which is then used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They also may need to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects all races as well as ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. Women are more at risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to suffer from complications, like heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
One of the early warning signs of diabetes in women is a rise in thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to get rid of it effectively.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
In the case of diabetes, cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is usually because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes frequently have a thirsty feeling and must drink large quantities of fluids. It can be as much as four liters daily.
Men can also lose weight as their bodies rely on muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays 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 levels, manage weight and 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 and legumes are a good choice. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might want to limit your intake of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks are often high in sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within normal levels. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes, such as eating habits and exercise to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being managed well with one medication, you may require a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to select the best medicine for your needs and preferences.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the chance of developing complications. They also help with weight loss and come in both tablets and injections.