Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help prevent or delay the disease. It’s also crucial to be aware of the symptoms so you can tell if something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting), which affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas stops making enough insulin, or fails to use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies can’t use it properly.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause problems with the eyes, feet and kidneys. It can also harm the arteries in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition and means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. This destruction can happen over several years or even decades before eventually resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of activity to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body may not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used for energy.
People with type 2 diabetes have to manage their condition through a healthy diet and exercise. They may also need to take medications to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects all races, ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. However, women are at a higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a higher likelihood of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and vision loss.
One of the early signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to get rid of it properly.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This usually happens because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then attempts to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and need to drink a lot of fluids.
The men may also lose weight since their bodies rely on muscle for energy rather than fat. This is because their blood sugar levels are elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole food items, including fruits, whole grains, vegetables as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might also need to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks usually contain lots of sugar in them that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within normal levels. These medications are often combined with lifestyle changes, such as diet and physical activity, to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar is not well controlled with one medication, you may require a second medication. Your doctor will assist you to choose the most appropriate medication for your specific needs and preferences.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and they come in both tablet and injection forms.