Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It is caused because the body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or fails to use the insulin that it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help prevent or delay the onset of the disease. It is important to know the symptoms, so you can determine whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health issue that affects how your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, or fails to use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is called glucose. People with type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it correctly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels are excessively high over 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 caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. The destruction can happen over several months or even years, eventually resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They also must monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust the levels of insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t utilize insulin in the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used for energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes have to manage their condition by eating a balanced diet and exercise. They may also need to take medication to regulate their blood glucose levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races, ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. However women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to suffer from complications, like heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for women with diabetes. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the bloodstream and your kidneys aren’t able to remove it effectively.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
In diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This usually happens because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This leads to high blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes typically experience thirst and require to drink large amounts of fluids, up to four liters per day.
Men can also experience weight loss since their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help control blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods like fruits vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might also want to limit the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks usually contain plenty of sugar in them, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in normal levels. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being controlled by one medication, you might need to add a second medication. Your doctor will guide you to select the right medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.