Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that is affecting millions of people each year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help to prevent or delay the development of the disease. It is important to understand the symptoms to determine if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health issue that affects the way your body turns food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops making enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, which is known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause issues with your feet, eyes, and kidneys. It could also harm 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. This destruction can occur over months or even years and eventually lead to the absence of insulin completely.
Insulin is a requirement for people with type 1 diabetes every day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activities to maintain their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t producing insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells remove 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 adhere to a healthy diet. They may also have to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects all races and ethnicities, ages, and genders. However women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience complications, like heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for diabetes in women. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your blood and kidneys can’t remove it.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is usually because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes frequently feel thirsty and need to drink large amounts of fluids. It can be as much as four liters a day.
Men may also lose weight because their bodies use muscles for energy instead of fat. This is because blood sugar levels stay high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a key element in managing your diabetes. It can help manage blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
You should include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products and legumes are a good choice. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might be advised to limit your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks typically contain plenty of sugar, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes such as eating habits and exercise to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled by one medicine another medicine could be added. Your doctor will assist you to determine the most appropriate medication for your needs and preferences.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, offer kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injection forms.