Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It happens when the body is unable to produce enough insulin, or fails to use the insulin that it has effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and can be prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medication. It’s important to be aware of the symptoms to be able to tell what’s wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects the way your body turns food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to use it properly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin or their bodies don’t use it properly.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels get too high in time. This can lead to issues in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It could also cause damage to blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. The destruction can take place over many months or even years before resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They also must monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their food, insulin and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body does not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be utilized to generate energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and follow a healthy diet. They also may need 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 people of all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are at higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk likelihood of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and vision loss.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for women who suffer from diabetes. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the blood, and your kidneys aren’t able to eliminate it properly.
Men with diabetes Men: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This usually happens because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. The body 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, as much as four liters per day.
The men may also lose weight as their bodies make use of muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels remain high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help manage blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
You should include whole food items in your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products and legumes are great choices. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may also want to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks are usually high in sugar which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in the normal range. These medications are often combined with lifestyle changes, such as eating habits and physical activity to help manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being controlled by one medication, you might need to add a second medication. Your doctor will guide you to select the right medicine for your preferences and needs.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower 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 injectable and tablet forms.