Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions each year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin or it’s not able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help prevent or delay the development of the disease. It is also important to understand the symptoms so you can determine whether you have a problem and seek 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 doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to use it properly.
The blood sugar levels rise as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can lead to issues with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It may also damage the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder and means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This destruction can occur over months or even for years and eventually lead to an absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics must take insulin each day. They also must monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust the levels of insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within a 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 which helps your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and follow a healthy diet. They might also need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
It is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. However women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to suffer from complications, such as heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One early warning sign of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your blood and kidneys are unable to eliminate it.
Diabetes in men Men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This is usually because the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty and require to drink a lot of fluids.
Men can also shed weight as their bodies utilize muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is an important part of managing your diabetes. It can help regulate blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods, including fruits, whole grains, vegetables, beans and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might consider limiting your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks are typically packed with sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes such as exercising and diet to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed by one medication another medicine could be added. Your doctor will help you select the right medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the chance of developing complications. They also help with weight loss and come in both tablets and injections.