Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that is affecting millions of people each year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin or it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the disease. It is important to understand the symptoms to determine whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting) that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to properly use it.
Insulin is a hormone that helps 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 make it work properly.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels get excessively high over time. This can lead to problems with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. It can also damage the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease which means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. This process can take months or even years until it eventually leads to an inability to produce insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for people with type 1 diabetes all day. They also have to keep track of their blood glucose levels and adjust their the 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 use insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used to create energy.
People with type 2 diabetes have to manage their condition through a healthy diet and exercise. They also may need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races as well as ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. Women are more susceptible than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One of the first signs of women suffering from diabetes is a rise in thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood and your kidneys aren’t equipped to remove it in a proper manner.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes is a condition where cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is typically because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. The body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and they need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss as their bodies break down muscle for energy instead of fat. This is because their blood sugar levels stay high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, control your weight, and reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products such as beans, legumes, and beans are great choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may need to limit your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks often have high levels of sugar and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in a normal range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes, such as eating habits and exercise to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not well controlled with one medicine, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to choose the most appropriate medicine for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, offer kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss, and they are available in tablets and injections.