Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It happens because the body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or fails to make use of the insulin it has effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help to prevent or delay the development of the disease. It is also essential to be aware of symptoms to determine what’s wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health issue (long-lasting), which impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use it as well as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it effectively.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause issues with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also damage the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder which means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This destruction can occur over months or even for years and eventually lead to a complete lack of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics require insulin every day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar in a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers need to treat their diabetes through a healthy diet and regular exercise. They may also have to take medication to regulate their blood glucose levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races and ethnicities and ages as well as genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the first signs of diabetes in women is increased thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your bloodstream and kidneys can’t remove it.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is usually due to the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood sugar levels. The body tries to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and they need to drink lots of fluids.
Men may also shed weight as their bodies use muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a crucial aspect 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 food items in your diet, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products and legumes are excellent choices. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might want to limit your intake of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks are typically high in sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes, such as exercising and diet to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being controlled by one medication, you might need to take a different medication. Your doctor will assist you to choose the best medicine for your needs and preferences.
Newer medications like glucagon-like receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, offer kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.