Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when the body is unable to produce enough insulin or cannot make use of the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can aid in preventing or reducing the disease. It’s important to be aware of symptoms so you can tell what’s wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas stops making enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it correctly.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can lead to problems with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It could also cause damage to blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. This destruction can happen over many years or months before eventually resulting in a total lack of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body isn’t making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and follow a healthy diet. They also may need to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are at greater risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a greater likelihood of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and vision loss.
One early warning sign of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your bloodstream, and your kidneys cannot remove it.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
In the case of diabetes it is when cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is typically because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and need to drink lots of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss since their bodies break down muscle to make energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a crucial aspect of managing the condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels control weight and reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
You should include whole food items in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products and legumes are great choices. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may want to limit your intake of beverages sweetened 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 keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled on one medicine another medicine could be added. Your doctor will work with you to determine the best medicine for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose inhibitors that lower blood sugar levels, provide cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.