Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it can’t use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and can be prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It is also essential to recognize the signs so you can tell whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or cannot use it properly.
The blood sugar levels increase with time in both forms of diabetes. This can cause issues with the eyes, feet and kidneys. It can also harm the 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 cells that produce insulin, and destroys them. This process can take several years or even decades, eventually leading to an inability to produce insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activities to keep their blood sugar in the normal 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 aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells which is then utilized to generate energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to regulate their blood sugar levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races as well as ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. However women are at higher risk than males.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, such as heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for women who suffer from diabetes. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the blood, and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to eliminate it effectively.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
In diabetes the cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes typically feel thirsty and need to drink large amounts of fluids. This can be up to four liters daily.
Men also may lose weight since their bodies make use of muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is an important part of managing your condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, control your weight, and reduce heart disease risk factors.
Include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products and legumes are a good choice. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may also want to limit the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks usually contain a lot of sugar that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within normal levels. These drugs are often paired with changes in lifestyle, like physical activity and diet, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being managed well with one medication, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor can help you choose the best medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar, have cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They are also useful for weight loss, and come in both tablets and injections.