Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it’s not able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can aid in preventing or reducing the progression of the disease. It is also crucial to be aware of the signs, so you can tell whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health issue that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and use glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it effectively.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels become excessively high over time. This can lead to problems with the eyes, feet, and kidneys. 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 pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. This destruction can happen over several years or even decades until it eventually leads to a total lack of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of activity to keep their blood sugar in an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body does not make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to control their blood glucose levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are more susceptible than men.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One of the first signs of diabetes in women is increased thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your bloodstream and kidneys are unable to filter it out.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This usually happens because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body attempts to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and need to drink lots of fluids.
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 stay high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is a key element in managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, reduce your weight and the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products such as beans, legumes, and beans are great choices. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may also consider limiting the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks typically contain plenty of sugar and can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes like exercise and diet to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed by one medication another medicine could be added. Your doctor will assist you to select the most appropriate medication for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.