Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it’s not able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and can be treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medications. It’s important to be aware of symptoms so you can tell what’s wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which alters the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops producing enough insulin, or fails to use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to use it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels increase with time in both forms of diabetes. This can cause issues in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It could also harm your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The process of destruction can last for several years or even decades, eventually leading to the total absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by those with type 1 diabetes all day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of activity to keep their blood sugar in the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body does not make use of 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 where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races, ethnic groups, ages, and genders. However women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One early warning sign of women with diabetes is a rise in thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your blood and kidneys can’t eliminate it.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
In diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is usually because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This leads to elevated blood sugar levels. The body tries to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and they need 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 their blood sugar levels remain 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 control blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole foods like fruits, whole grains, vegetables beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may also consider limiting the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks usually contain lots of sugar and can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These drugs are often paired with lifestyle changes, such as physical activity and diet, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being managed well with one medicine, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will assist you to select the most appropriate medication to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications like glucagon-like receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose inhibitors that lower blood sugar levels, have cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and come in both tablets and injections.