Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can aid in preventing or reducing the disease. It is also essential to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell what’s wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting) that impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops producing enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin or aren’t able to utilize it effectively.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels become too high in time. This can cause problems in the feet, eyes, and kidneys. It may also damage the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder, meaning that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. This process can take several years or even decades and eventually lead to the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by those who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activity levels to keep their blood sugar levels within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used as energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes have to manage their condition with a healthy diet and regular exercise. They might also need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
It is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are more at risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a greater chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One early warning sign of women with diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the blood, and your kidneys aren’t able to get rid of it properly.
Men with diabetes The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This is usually due to the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This results in elevated blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and they need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men may be able to experience weight loss too as their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is an important part of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar levels, control your weight, and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products, beans, and legumes are great choices. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may also be able to reduce the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks often have a lot of sugar in them, which can lead to 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 eating habits and exercise to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled by one medicine another medicine could be added. Your doctor will work with you to choose the best medicine for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the chance of developing complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.