Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it can’t use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It is also important to understand the symptoms to determine whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or is unable to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin or their bodies cannot use it effectively.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels can become too high in time. This can cause problems with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also harm the coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks the insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. The destruction can take place over months or even years until it leads to an absence of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They also must monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust food, insulin and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which can then be used to create energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes by consuming a balanced diet and regular exercise. They may also have to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races and ethnic groups age, genders, and ages. However, women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, including heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
One of the early signs of women suffering from diabetes is increased thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your blood and kidneys can’t eliminate it.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is usually because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This causes elevated blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes typically are thirsty and have to drink large amounts of fluids. This can be up to four liters daily.
Men can also experience weight loss as their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy instead of fat. This is because their blood sugar levels are high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet with a low-carbohydrate diet is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help control blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
You should 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 fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might consider limiting your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks are often packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in an acceptable range. These medications are usually combined with changes in lifestyle, like physical activity and diet, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being adequately controlled with one medication, you might need to take a different medication. Your doctor will assist you to pick the best medicine for your needs and preferences.
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 reducing the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and come in both tablet and injection forms.