Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it’s not able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the onset of the disease. It is important to recognize the signs to determine if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health issue that affects how your body turns food into energy. It happens when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or fails to properly use it.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin or their bodies don’t use it properly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels become excessively high over time. This can cause problems with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It may also cause damage to the arteries in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks the insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. The destruction can happen over months or even for years, eventually resulting in an absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activities to keep their blood sugar levels within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells which can then be utilized to generate energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They might also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. However women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a higher likelihood of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One of the early signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood and your kidneys aren’t equipped to filter it out effectively.
The signs of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a condition where cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This causes high blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty and require to drink lots of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss since their bodies break down muscle for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels are high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet with a low-carbohydrate diet is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
Include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products such as beans, legumes, and beans are great choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may also consider limiting the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. These drinks are usually packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being controlled by one medicine, you may require a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to pick the best medicine for your needs and preferences.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, provide kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They are also useful for weight loss and are available in tablet and injection forms.