Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions each year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it can’t use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help prevent or delay the onset of the disease. It is also important to recognize the signs so you can determine if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting) that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or is unable to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to use it properly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels become too high over time. This can lead to problems with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It may also cause damage to the blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. The process of destruction can last for many years or months until it eventually leads to the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes all day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of exercise to maintain their blood sugar within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the body isn’t using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are more susceptible than males.
Women with diabetes are more prone to suffer from complications, like heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One of the first signs of diabetes in women is a higher thirst and increased urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your blood and kidneys can’t eliminate it.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This is usually because the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body attempts to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes typically are thirsty and have to drink large quantities of fluids, as much as 4 liters a day.
Men also may shed weight as their bodies use muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a key element in managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar, control your weight, and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods, including fruits vegetables, whole grains, beans and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may also be able to reduce the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks are often packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as exercise and diet to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being managed well with one medicine, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor can help you determine the most appropriate medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.