Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that is affecting millions of people each year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it can’t use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can all help in preventing or delaying the disease. It’s also crucial to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell whether something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting) that alters the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas stops producing enough insulin or can’t use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to use it properly.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause problems with your feet, eyes and kidneys. It can also cause damage to your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This destruction can happen over months or even years and eventually lead to a total lack of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activities to maintain their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which can then be used to create energy.
People with type 2 diabetes need to treat their condition with a healthy diet and regular exercise. They may also have to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are more susceptible than males.
Women with diabetes have a higher likelihood of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the bloodstream and your kidneys aren’t able to remove it in a proper manner.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is usually due to the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This leads to high blood sugar levels. Your body will then attempt to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently feel thirsty and need to drink large amounts of fluids, as much as 4 liters a day.
Men can be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle to make energy, instead of fat. This is because blood sugar levels stay high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is an important part of managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar, control your weight, and reduce heart disease risk factors.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole food items, including fruits vegetables, whole grains as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may consider limiting your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain high levels of sugar in them, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These drugs are often paired with lifestyle changes, like eating habits and physical activity to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being controlled by one medication, you might require a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to determine the best medication for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the chance of developing complications. They also help with weight loss, and they are available in tablet and injection forms.