Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions each year. It occurs when the body is unable to produce enough insulin, or fails to utilize the insulin it has effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can aid in preventing or reducing the onset of the disease. It’s also important to be aware of the symptoms to know the signs of a problem and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies are unable to use it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can cause issues with the eyes, feet, and kidneys. It could also harm your brain and heart arteries.
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. The destruction can happen over many months or even years until it leads to the absence of insulin completely.
Insulin is required by people with type 1 diabetes all day. They also have to keep track of their blood glucose levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within 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 hormonal substance that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it is utilized to generate energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and follow a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
It is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are more susceptible 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 is a sign of warning for diabetes in women. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the blood, and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to remove it properly.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
In the case of diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is typically because the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This results in elevated blood sugar levels. Your body will then try to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and need to drink lots of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss because their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels are high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels control weight and reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole foods, such as fruits whole grains, vegetables beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might want to limit your intake of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain plenty of sugar which can result in high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes such as exercising and diet to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being adequately controlled with one medication, you might require a second medication. Your doctor will assist you choose the best medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose inhibitors that lower blood sugar levels, provide kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They’re also helpful for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.