Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that is affecting millions of people each year. It happens when the body does not produce enough insulin or use the insulin that it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It is also essential to be aware of symptoms to determine the signs of a problem and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which alters how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or is unable to properly use it.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is called glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it work properly.
The blood sugar levels rise with time in both forms of diabetes. This can cause issues with your eyes, feet and kidneys. It can also damage your heart arteries and 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. This destruction can happen over months or even years before eventually resulting in an inability to produce insulin.
Insulin is required by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their the levels of insulin, food and activity levels 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 helps your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also have to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
It is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to experience complications, such as heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
One early warning sign of women suffering from diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in your blood and the kidneys aren’t able eliminate it properly.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is usually because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This leads to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body will then try to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes frequently experience thirst and require to drink large quantities of fluids. It can be as much as four liters per day.
Men may also experience weight loss since their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your condition. It can help you control blood sugar, manage your weight and reduce heart disease risk factors.
You should include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products as well as legumes, beans and beans are great choices. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might need to limit your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks are usually packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may recommend diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within an acceptable range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes such as eating habits and exercise to help you 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 determine the most appropriate medication for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss, and they are available in tablet and injection forms.