Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that affects millions of people each year. It occurs when the body fails to produce enough insulin or use the insulin that it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can aid in preventing or reducing the progression of the disease. It’s important to be aware of the symptoms to determine if something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting) that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use it as well as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin, or their bodies can’t use it properly.
The blood sugar levels increase as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can cause problems with the eyes, feet and kidneys. It can also cause damage to your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic cells that produce insulin, and destroys them. The destruction can happen over months or even for years, eventually resulting in the absence of insulin completely.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used as energy.
People with type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes by eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medication to regulate their blood glucose levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races and ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. However, women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to experience complications, including heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of women suffering from diabetes is increased thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in your blood and your kidneys aren’t equipped to remove it in a proper manner.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This usually happens because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood sugar levels. The body tries to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and they have to drink lots of fluids.
The men may also lose weight because their bodies utilize muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is a key element in managing your diabetes. It can help control blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods, including fruits vegetables, whole grains, beans and low-fat dairy. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might also consider limiting the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks often have a lot of sugar that can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might recommend diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in the normal range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being adequately controlled with one medication, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will assist you choose the best medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, offer kidney and cardiovascular benefits and reduce the risk of complications. They’re also helpful for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.