Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and can be treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medications. It is also essential to know the symptoms, so you can identify whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting), which alters the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or is unable to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is called glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to use it in a proper way.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels get too high over time. This can cause issues with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. It could also cause damage to blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. The destruction can take place over months or even years before resulting in the absence of insulin completely.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They must also monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their 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 doesn’t make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it can be used to create energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their condition with a healthy diet and regular exercise. 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 of all races, ethnic groups, ages, and genders. However women are at higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a greater chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early signs of women with diabetes is a rise in thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to eliminate it in a proper manner.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
In diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is typically because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood sugar levels. Your body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People who have diabetes often feel thirsty and need to drink large quantities of fluids, as much as four liters a day.
The men may also shed weight as their bodies rely on muscles for energy instead of fat. This is because their blood sugar levels are high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet with a low-carbohydrate diet can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
You should include whole food items in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products such as beans, legumes, and beans are a good choice. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might also consider limiting the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks often have high levels of sugar in them, which can lead to high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes such as exercising and diet to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being controlled by one medication, you might require a second medication. Your doctor will assist you to determine the best medication for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medications like glucagon-like receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, offer kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.