Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that affects millions of people every year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin or it’s not able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can aid in preventing or reducing the development of the disease. It’s also important to be aware of symptoms to know what’s wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health issue (long-lasting), which impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or isn’t able to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin or aren’t able to use it properly.
The blood sugar levels rise with time in both forms of diabetes. This can cause problems in the feet, eyes, and kidneys. It could also harm your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease and means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. The process of destruction can last for months or even years, eventually leading to an inability to produce 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 to maintain their blood sugar within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body does not make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers need to treat their condition through a healthy diet and regular exercise. They might also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races, ethnicities, and genders. However women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are more prone to experience complications, including heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes), and vision loss.
One of the early warning signs of women suffering from diabetes is a rise in thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your bloodstream and kidneys are unable to remove it.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is usually because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This leads to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body will then attempt to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and they need to drink plenty of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss because 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 long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a key element in managing your condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods like fruits vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may want to limit your intake of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks usually contain a lot of sugar and can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being controlled by one medication, you may require a second medication. Your doctor will guide you to select the right medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.