Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people every year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it can’t use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medication. It’s also important to be aware of the symptoms to know what’s wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it in a proper way.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels become too high in time. This can cause issues with the eyes, feet and kidneys. It could also harm 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 pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. The destruction can take place over months or even for years and eventually lead to the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar levels within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body does not make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and follow a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. However women are at a greater risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, including heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for women with diabetes. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your bloodstream, and your kidneys cannot eliminate it.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This usually happens because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then attempts to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and they have to drink a lot of fluids.
Men can be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle for 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 for diabetes is an important part of managing your diabetes. It can help control blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
You should include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products as well as legumes, beans and beans are great choices. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might also consider limiting the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks often have a lot of sugar that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are often combined with changes in lifestyle, like diet and physical activity, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being adequately controlled with one medicine, you may require a second medication. Your doctor will assist you to pick the best medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar, have 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.