Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that is affecting millions of people each year. It is caused when the body is unable to produce enough insulin or use the insulin that it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help to prevent or delay the development of the disease. It is also crucial to recognize the signs so you can tell whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health issue (long-lasting) that alters the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or fails to use it properly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels are too high in time. This can cause problems in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also cause damage to your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, meaning that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. This process can take many years or months until it eventually leads to the total absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also must monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their the levels of insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body isn’t producing 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 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 need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races and ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. However women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to develop complications, including heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women suffering from diabetes. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood, and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to filter it out effectively.
Men with diabetes 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 stops producing enough insulin.
This causes high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty and require to drink plenty of fluids.
Men can also lose weight as their bodies make use of muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help regulate blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, including fruits, whole grains, vegetables beans, and low-fat dairy. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may also want to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks often have high levels of sugar that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are often combined with lifestyle changes, like diet and physical activity, to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not well controlled with one medication, you might need to take a different medication. Your doctor will assist you to determine the most appropriate medication for your needs and preferences.
Newer medications like glucagon-like receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.