Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease which affects millions of people every year. It is caused when the body is unable to produce enough insulin or cannot use the insulin that it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can aid in preventing or reducing the progression of the disease. It is also essential to understand the symptoms so you can identify whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting) that impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, or fails to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or aren’t able to utilize it properly.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels get too high in time. This can cause problems with your feet, eyes, and kidneys. It could also cause damage to arteries in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease and means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. This process can take many years or months before eventually resulting in the total absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2, your body is not making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used to create energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes must treat their condition with a healthy diet and exercise. They may also have to take medications to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. However, women are at a higher risk than males.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, such as heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One of the first signs of women with diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the bloodstream and your kidneys aren’t equipped to get rid of it properly.
Men with diabetes The signs and symptoms
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This usually happens because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body will then try to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes frequently have a thirsty feeling and must drink large amounts of fluids. It can be as much as four liters daily.
Men may also experience weight loss since their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels remain high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, manage your weight and reduce heart disease risk factors.
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 might need to limit your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks are typically packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as exercise and diet to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being adequately controlled with one medication, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor will work with you to choose the best medicine for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.