Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can help to prevent or delay the disease. It is also essential to recognize the signs so you can determine whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which alters the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops making enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is called glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it in a proper way.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels become too high over time. This can lead to issues in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It could also cause damage to 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 pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. The process of destruction can last for months or even years until it eventually leads to the total absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes the body does not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that 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 need to exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are at greater risk than males.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and vision loss.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women who suffer from diabetes. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in the bloodstream and your kidneys aren’t able to remove it effectively.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
In diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is typically because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This results in high blood sugar levels. The body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes typically have a thirsty feeling and must drink large amounts of fluids, up to 4 liters a day.
Men also may lose weight because their bodies rely on muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your condition. It can help control blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, such as fruits, whole grains, vegetables beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might want to limit your intake of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks are often high in sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in normal levels. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes such as exercising and diet to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being controlled by one medication, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor can help you select the right medicine for your preferences and needs.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.