Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions each year. It occurs when the body fails to produce enough insulin or cannot make use of the insulin it produces effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can all help in preventing or delaying the disease. It is also crucial to be aware of the signs, so you can identify whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting) that impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops making enough insulin, or fails to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it properly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels can become too high in time. This can cause issues with the eyes, feet and kidneys. It could also cause damage to arteries in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder and means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. The destruction can take place over many months or even years and eventually lead to the complete absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics need to take insulin every day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body does not make 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 for energy.
People with type 2 diabetes must treat their condition with a healthy diet and exercise. They may also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects all races and ethnicities and ages as well as genders. However women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, such as heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early signs of women with diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the bloodstream and your kidneys aren’t equipped to get rid of it correctly.
The signs of diabetes in men
In diabetes the cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This usually happens because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This leads to elevated blood sugar levels. The body then attempts to lower 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 four liters a day.
Men may also experience weight loss since their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage your weight and reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products, beans, and legumes are good choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may also want to limit the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks are typically high in sugar and can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes such as eating habits and exercise to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t controlled on one medicine another medicine could be added. Your doctor will work with you to pick the best medicine for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose inhibitors that lower blood sugar levels, have cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and come in both tablet and injection forms.