Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it’s not able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and can be treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medication. It is also essential to understand the symptoms so you can identify 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 occurs when the pancreas stops making enough insulin or can’t use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to use it properly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels get too high over time. This can lead to issues with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It may also damage your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. The destruction can take place over months or even years until it leads to a complete lack of insulin.
Insulin is required by those who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from 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.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects all races as well as ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. Women are more susceptible than men.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your bloodstream and kidneys can’t eliminate it.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is usually because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. The body tries to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and they have to drink plenty of fluids.
Men may also shed weight as their bodies make use of muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should comprise 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 might need to limit your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks are often high in sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in an acceptable range. These medications are typically combined with changes in lifestyle, like eating habits and physical activity to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being adequately controlled with one medicine, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor will work with you to determine the most appropriate medicine for your requirements and preferences.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss, and come in both tablets and injections.