Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness 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.
The good news is that it can be cured and prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medication. It’s also important to be aware of the symptoms to know whether something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects the way your body transforms food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops producing enough insulin or can’t use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to use it in a proper way.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels become too high over time. This can lead to problems with your 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 an autoimmune disease and means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This destruction can happen over months or even years until it eventually leads to an inability to produce insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be utilized to generate energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also have to take medications to control their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects all races as well as ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. Women are more susceptible than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to experience complications, like heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for diabetes in women. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your blood and kidneys can’t remove it.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
In diabetes it is when cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This usually happens because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. The body tries to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty and require to drink lots of fluids.
The men may also lose weight as 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
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a key element in managing your condition. It can help control blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products such as beans, legumes, and beans are excellent choices. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might also want to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks are usually high in sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within the normal range. These medications are usually combined with lifestyle changes, like physical activity and diet, to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels are not well controlled with one medication, you may require a second medication. Your doctor will assist you to pick the most appropriate medication for your needs and preferences.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, provide cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.