Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it’s not able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help to prevent or delay the development of the disease. It’s important to be aware of symptoms so you can tell the signs of a problem and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting) that impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or isn’t able to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies can’t make it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause problems in the feet, eyes, and kidneys. It can also damage the blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease and means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. This destruction can occur over several months or even years, 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 sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activities to keep their blood sugar levels within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body may not make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and eat a healthy diet. 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 disease that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are more at risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to experience complications, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes), and vision loss.
One of the early warning signs of women with diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your blood, and your kidneys cannot filter it out.
Men with diabetes The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is usually because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This causes elevated blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes frequently feel thirsty and need to drink large amounts of fluids. It can be as much as four liters a day.
Men also may lose weight since their bodies use muscle for energy rather than 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, manage your weight, and lower the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
You should include whole food items in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products, beans, and legumes are good choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may be advised to limit your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks often have a lot of sugar that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes, such as eating habits and exercise to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well managed on one medication it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will assist you choose the best medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications like glucagon-like receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, offer kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They are also useful for weight loss and come in both tablet and injection forms.