Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that is affecting millions of people each year. It is caused when the body is unable to produce enough insulin or cannot use the insulin that it produces effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help to prevent or delay the onset of the disease. It’s important to be aware of symptoms so you can tell the signs of a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting), which alters the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin, or their bodies are unable to use it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels get excessively high over time. This can lead to problems with your feet, eyes, and kidneys. It may also damage 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 process of destruction can last for months or years before eventually resulting in a total lack of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They must also monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their food, insulin and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers need to treat their condition by consuming a balanced diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medication to control their blood glucose levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are more at risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to suffer from complications, like heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
One of the first signs of diabetes in women is a rise in thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your blood and kidneys can’t filter it out.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
In diabetes, cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This usually happens because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can lead to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and they need to drink plenty of fluids.
Men can also lose weight because their bodies make use of muscle for energy rather than fat. This is because their blood sugar levels stay high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, manage your weight and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, such as fruits, whole grains, vegetables beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may also be able to reduce the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. These drinks typically contain high levels of sugar in them which can result in elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes such as eating habits and exercise to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled on one medicine it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will assist you select the right medicine for your preferences and needs.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the chance of developing complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in tablets and injections.