Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that is affecting millions of people each year. It occurs because the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or cannot use the insulin that it produces effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can all help in preventing or delaying the progression of the disease. It is also important to be aware of the signs, so you can determine whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects the way your body turns food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops producing enough insulin, or fails to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to use it correctly.
The blood sugar levels rise as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can cause issues with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It could also cause damage to 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 pancreatic cells that produce insulin, and destroys them. The destruction can take place over many years or months 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 the levels of insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also have to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects all races, ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. Women are more susceptible than males.
Women with diabetes are more likely to develop complications, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
One early warning sign of women suffering from diabetes is increased thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your blood and kidneys are unable to eliminate it.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
In diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is usually because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This results in elevated blood sugar levels. Your body will then attempt to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men also may lose weight because their bodies use muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is because blood sugar levels are elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels control weight and reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may be advised to limit your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks often have high levels of sugar which can result in elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might recommend diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes such as exercise and diet to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t managed by one medication then a second medication could be added. Your doctor can help you select the right medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, have cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.