Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it can’t use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help to prevent or delay the onset of the disease. It’s also crucial to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell what’s wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which alters the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or isn’t able to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. People with type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin, or their bodies can’t use it properly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels get too high over time. This can lead to problems in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It could also cause damage to arteries in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease which means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The destruction can take place over months or even years and eventually lead to a total lack of insulin.
Insulin is required by those with type 1 diabetes 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 in an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body does not utilize insulin in the way 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 as energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers need to treat their diabetes by consuming a balanced diet and regular exercise. They may also have to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects all races and ethnicities as well as ages and genders. However women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to develop complications, like heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for women who suffer from diabetes. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your bloodstream, and your kidneys cannot remove it.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is usually because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. The body then attempts to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and they have to drink lots of fluids.
Men also may lose weight as their bodies utilize muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet with a low-carbohydrate diet can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar, manage your weight and reduce heart disease risk factors.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods like fruits, whole grains, vegetables, beans and low-fat dairy. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may also consider limiting the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks usually contain a lot of sugar and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes like exercise and diet to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being managed well with one medication, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to select the most appropriate medicine for your needs and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and come in both tablets and injections.