Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when the body is unable to produce enough insulin or use the insulin that it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can all help in preventing or delaying the development of the disease. It’s also crucial to be aware of the symptoms so you can tell what’s wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health condition that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, which is known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it work properly.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels can become too high in time. This can cause problems with your feet, eyes and kidneys. 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 the pancreatic cells that produce insulin, and destroys them. The process of destruction can last for many years or months until it eventually leads to the complete absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used as 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, ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. However, women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and vision loss.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for women suffering from diabetes. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your blood, and your kidneys cannot filter it out.
The signs of diabetes in men
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is typically because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body will then try to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and they have to drink plenty of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss as their bodies break down muscle for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods, including fruits whole grains, vegetables as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may be advised to limit your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks usually contain high levels of sugar in them that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes like exercising and diet to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not well controlled with one medication, you might need to take a different medication. Your doctor will guide you to determine the most appropriate medicine for your preferences and needs.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the risk of complications. They’re also helpful for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.