Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when the body fails to produce enough insulin or utilize the insulin it has effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can help to prevent or delay the onset of the disease. It is also essential to understand the symptoms so you can tell whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting), which alters the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it properly.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels become too high in time. This can cause problems with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. It can also damage the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. The process of destruction can last for months or even years until it eventually leads to an inability to produce insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes all day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their food, insulin and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells which is then used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers need to treat their condition with a healthy diet and exercise. They may also have to take medication to regulate their blood sugar levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. However, women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk likelihood of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of women suffering from diabetes is increased thirst and urinary frequency, also known as 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 properly.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
In diabetes it is when cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is typically because the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This can lead to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body will then attempt to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and need to drink plenty of fluids.
Men also may lose weight since their bodies use muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels are high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar, manage your weight, and lower the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products and legumes are great choices. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might be advised to limit your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks usually contain lots of sugar, which can lead to high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may suggest diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in the normal range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes like eating habits and exercise to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being adequately controlled with one medication, you might require a second medication. Your doctor will guide you to choose the best medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce 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 they come in both tablets and injections.