Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when the body fails to produce enough insulin or cannot use the insulin that it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medication. It is also crucial to understand the symptoms to determine whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting) that alters how your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, which is known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it properly.
The blood sugar levels increase as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can lead to problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It may also damage the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. The destruction can take place over months or years, eventually leading to a total lack of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of exercise to maintain their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t producing insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also have to take medication to regulate their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects all races and ethnicities and ages as well as genders. However women are at higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early signs of women suffering from diabetes is a rise in thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your blood, and your kidneys cannot eliminate it.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is usually because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and they need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men may be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a key element in managing your diabetes. It can help regulate blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
You should include whole food items in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products, beans, and legumes are a good choice. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may also be able to reduce the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks often have high levels of sugar that can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not well controlled with one medicine, you may require a second medication. Your doctor can help you pick the best medication for your preferences and needs.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of complications. They’re also helpful for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.