Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It is also important to know the symptoms, to determine whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects the way your body turns food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops producing enough insulin, or fails to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to use it correctly.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can cause issues in the feet, eyes and kidneys. It can also damage the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease and means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. The process of destruction can last for many years or months and eventually lead to an inability to produce insulin.
Type 1 diabetics must take insulin each day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their the insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes the body does not utilize insulin in the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which is then used as energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes have to manage their condition with a healthy diet and exercise. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood glucose levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are more at risk than males.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for women with diabetes. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and your kidneys aren’t able to remove it properly.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is typically because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body will then attempt to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty and require to drink a lot of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss since their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is an important part of managing your condition. It can help you control blood sugar, manage your weight and reduce heart disease risk factors.
You should include whole food items in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products, beans, and legumes are good choices. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may want to limit your intake of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks usually contain high levels of sugar, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are often combined with lifestyle changes, like eating habits and physical activity to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t managed on one medication then a second medication could be added. Your doctor will guide you to determine the most appropriate medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer medications like glucagon-like receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, have cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They are also useful for weight loss, and come in both tablets and injections.