Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that is affecting millions of people each year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can help to prevent or delay the disease. It’s also important to be aware of symptoms to know if something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health issue that affects the way your body transforms food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or isn’t able to properly use it.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and use glucose, also referred to as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin or their bodies don’t utilize it correctly.
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 caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. This destruction can occur over several months or even years until it leads to an absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by people with type 1 diabetes all day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their food, insulin and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2, your body is not using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which is then utilized to generate energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They also may need to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects all races as well as ethnic groups, ages, and genders. Women are more at risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience complications, like heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One of the first signs of women with diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood, and the kidneys aren’t able filter it out effectively.
Diabetes in men Men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is usually because the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This can lead to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body will then try to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and need to drink lots of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss as their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy 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 for heart diseases.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole food items, including fruits, whole grains, vegetables as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might also consider limiting the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks often have high levels of sugar in them that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in the normal range. These medications are often combined with lifestyle changes, like exercise and diet to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled by one medicine then a second medication could be added. Your doctor will work with you to choose the best medication for your needs and preferences.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of complications. They’re also helpful for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.