Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It’s also crucial to be aware of symptoms to determine whether something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting) that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or fails to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies are unable to use it correctly.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels become too high over time. This can lead to issues with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also cause damage to 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 the pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. This process can last for several months or even years before resulting in the absence of insulin completely.
People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They also have to keep track of their blood glucose levels and adjust the insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body may not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people from all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to develop complications, including heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for women who suffer from diabetes. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your bloodstream and kidneys can’t remove it.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is usually due to the pancreas stops producing 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 from your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and they have to drink a lot of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss as their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar, reduce your weight and the risk of developing heart disease.
Include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products, beans, and legumes are great choices. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may consider limiting your consumption of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks are often packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might recommend diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in a normal range. These drugs are often paired with changes in lifestyle, like physical activity and diet, to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled by one medicine it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will work with you to choose the best medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications like glucagon-like receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, provide cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.