Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it isn’t able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help prevent or delay the onset of the disease. It’s important to be aware of the symptoms to know if something is wrong 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 happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or isn’t able to use it correctly.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and use glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or aren’t able to use it effectively.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can lead to problems with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It may also cause damage to the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease and means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This destruction can happen over months or even years until it eventually leads to an inability to produce insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of activity to keep their blood sugar in an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body isn’t 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 can be used as energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their condition by consuming a balanced diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medications to control their blood glucose levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and vision loss.
One of the early warning signs of diabetes in women is increased thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your blood and kidneys are unable to filter it out.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
In diabetes it is when cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This usually happens because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People who have diabetes often have a thirsty feeling and must drink large amounts of fluids. This can be up to four liters per day.
Men can be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle for energy instead of fat. This is because their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, manage your weight, and lower the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products such as beans, legumes, and beans are great choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might need to limit your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks are typically high in sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within normal levels. These medications are usually combined with lifestyle changes, like exercise and diet to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not well controlled with one medication, you might need to take a different medication. Your doctor will guide you to choose the best medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the chance of developing complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.