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 it isn’t able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It is also essential to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell whether something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body transforms food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops making enough insulin, or fails to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to make it work properly.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause problems with the eyes, feet, and kidneys. It can also cause damage to your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, meaning that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. The destruction can take place over months or even years and eventually lead to a complete lack of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also have to keep track of their blood glucose levels and adjust their the insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body may not make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it is used as energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers must treat their condition through a healthy diet and regular exercise. They may also have to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people from all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. However women are at higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications compared to men, such as heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for diabetes in women. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your blood and your kidneys are not able to eliminate it.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes it is when cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This usually happens because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. The body tries to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and need to drink a lot of fluids.
The men may also lose weight since their bodies rely on muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is an important part of managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar, reduce your weight and risk factors for heart disease.
You should include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products such as beans, legumes, and beans are great choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may consider limiting your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks are often packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within the normal range. These medications are usually combined with lifestyle changes, like exercise and diet to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed by one medication then a second medication could be added. Your doctor can help you choose the best medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose inhibitors that lower blood sugar levels, offer kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.