Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that is affecting millions of people each year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the disease. It is also essential to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell what’s wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body transforms food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or is unable to use it properly.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies are unable to use it in a proper way.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels get too high over time. This can lead to problems with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It may also cause damage to the blood vessels in your heart and 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 happen over many years or months before eventually resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics 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 a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t make 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 have to exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They also may need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people from all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. However, women are at a higher risk than males.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to develop complications, like heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for diabetes in women. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your blood, and your kidneys cannot filter it out.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is usually due to the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This results in elevated blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and they have to drink a lot of fluids.
Men can also lose weight because their bodies rely on muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is an important part of managing your condition. It can help control blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors for heart disease.
You should include whole food items in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products as well as legumes, beans and beans are great choices. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may also need to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks are often packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in the normal range. These drugs are often paired with lifestyle changes, such as diet and physical activity, to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels are not being controlled by one medication, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor can help you select the right medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and are available in tablet and injection forms.