Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can aid in preventing or reducing the disease. It is also essential to be aware of the symptoms to know whether something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health issue (long-lasting), which impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin, or fails to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin, or their bodies cannot use it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels become too high in time. This can cause issues with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also cause damage to your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is 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 several years or even decades until it eventually leads to an inability to produce insulin.
Type 1 diabetics need to take insulin every day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their the insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t make 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 eat a healthy diet. They may also need to take medications to control their blood glucose levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are more susceptible than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to develop complications, like heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes), and vision loss.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for diabetes in women. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your blood and your kidneys are not able to remove it.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
In diabetes it is when cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is typically because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then attempts to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty and require to drink a lot of fluids.
Men can be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, reduce your weight and the risk of developing heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole food items, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may also want to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks typically contain plenty of sugar which can result in elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes like eating habits and exercise to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well managed on one medication another medicine could be added. Your doctor can help you select the right medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of developing complications. They also aid in weight loss, and come in both tablets and injections.