Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that is affecting millions of people each year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it’s not able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help to prevent or delay the disease. It’s important to be aware of the symptoms to be able to tell the signs of a problem and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting), which alters how your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin, or their bodies can’t utilize it correctly.
The blood sugar levels rise with time in both forms of diabetes. This can cause issues with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. It may also damage the heart and brain arteries as well as your 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. The destruction can happen over many months or even years until it leads to the absence of insulin completely.
Insulin is a requirement for people with type 1 diabetes every day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar in the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormone that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells which is then utilized to generate energy.
People with type 2 diabetes have to manage their condition with a healthy diet and regular exercise. They also may need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. However, women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are more likely to develop complications, like heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for women who suffer from diabetes. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the blood, and the kidneys aren’t able remove it in a proper manner.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is typically because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This causes high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes typically feel thirsty and need to drink large amounts of fluids. This can be up to four liters a day.
Men may also experience weight loss because their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a vital aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar, manage your weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products as well as legumes, beans and beans are a good choice. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may need to limit your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks typically contain plenty of sugar and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed on one medication, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will assist you to select the best medication to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, offer cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.