Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that affects millions of people each year. It happens when the body does not produce enough insulin, or fails to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and can be prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medication. It’s also crucial to be aware of symptoms to know what’s wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies cannot use it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels become too high over time. This can cause problems with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also damage the coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. This process can last for several months or even years and eventually lead to an absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body does not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it can be utilized to generate energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes must treat their condition through a healthy diet and exercise. They may also have to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. However, women are at a higher risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to develop complications, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of women suffering from diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your bloodstream and kidneys are unable to remove it.
The signs of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is usually due to the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men can also shed weight as their bodies use muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is an important part of managing your diabetes. It can help regulate blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
You should include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products and legumes are excellent choices. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might be advised to limit your consumption of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain plenty of sugar in them, which can lead to high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may suggest diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in normal levels. These drugs are often paired with lifestyle changes, like physical activity and diet, to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels are not well controlled with one medication, you might need to add a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to pick the best medicine for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and they come in both tablets and injections.