Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that is affecting millions of people each year. It happens because the body doesn’t make enough insulin or use the insulin that it produces effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It is also essential to understand the symptoms so you can determine whether there is 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 fails to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t utilize it correctly.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels can become excessively high over time. This can lead to issues with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also cause damage to the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. The destruction can take place over months or even for years, eventually resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for people with type 1 diabetes all day. They also must monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust the insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body isn’t using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to regulate their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races and ethnic groups, ages, and genders. However, women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One early warning sign of women with diabetes is a higher thirst and increased the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and your kidneys aren’t equipped to remove it properly.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
In diabetes, cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is usually because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This can lead to high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss because their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet with a low-carbohydrate diet is a crucial aspect of managing the condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels control weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole food items, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may also need to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks are usually packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within normal levels. These drugs are often paired with lifestyle changes, like physical activity and diet, to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar is not well controlled with one medicine, you may require a second medication. Your doctor will assist you pick the best medication to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the risk of complications. They also help with weight loss, and they come in both tablets and injections.