Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It is caused when the body fails to produce enough insulin, or fails to use the insulin that it produces effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and can be prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It is also important to recognize the signs to determine whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects the way your body turns food into energy. It happens when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or is unable to properly use it.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or cannot use it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both types of diabetes. This can lead to issues in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It could also harm 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 insulin-producing cells and destroys them. This process can take several years or even decades before eventually resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They must also keep an eye on 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, your body does not make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it is utilized to generate energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and follow a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races as well as ethnic groups, ages, and genders. Women are at higher risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to develop complications, including heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
One early warning sign of women with diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood, and your kidneys aren’t equipped to get rid of it correctly.
Men with diabetes The signs and symptoms
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is typically because the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. The body then attempts to lower the 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 also may lose weight because their bodies utilize muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels remain elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is an important part of managing your condition. It can help control blood sugar levels control weight and reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
You should include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products, beans, and legumes are excellent choices. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might also consider limiting the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks are typically packed with sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes, such as physical activity and diet, to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t managed by one medication another medicine could be added. Your doctor will assist you to choose the most appropriate medication for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the chance of developing complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.