Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people every year. It occurs 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 treated and can be prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It’s also important to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell whether something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or isn’t able to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is called glucose. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin or are unable to use it correctly.
The blood sugar levels increase with time in both forms of diabetes. This can cause issues with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It could also cause damage to blood vessels in your heart as well as the 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 and eventually lead to the complete absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They also must monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their food, insulin and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body does not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and follow a healthy diet. They might also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. However women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are more prone to develop complications, such as heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One of the first signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood, and your kidneys aren’t able to eliminate it correctly.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This usually happens because the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men may be able to experience weight loss too as their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy, instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels stay high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar, control your weight, and reduce heart disease risk factors.
Include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products and legumes are a good choice. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may consider limiting your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks are typically packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes, such as exercising and diet to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t controlled on one medicine it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will work with you to pick the best medication for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits and lower the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.