Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin or it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can all help in preventing or delaying the progression of the disease. It is also essential to recognize the signs to determine if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health issue that affects how your body transforms food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas stops producing enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin, or their bodies can’t make it work properly.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause issues with your eyes, kidneys 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 the insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. The destruction can take place over several months or even years before resulting in a complete lack of insulin.
Insulin is required by those who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar levels within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2, your body is not using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and follow a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to regulate their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are at higher risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher likelihood of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and vision loss.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women who suffer from diabetes. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your blood, and your kidneys cannot remove it.
The signs of diabetes in men
In the case of diabetes, cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is typically because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This leads to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body will then try to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People who have diabetes often feel thirsty and need to drink large amounts of fluids, up to 4 liters a day.
Men can be able to experience weight loss too as their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help regulate blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
You should include whole food items in your diet, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products and legumes are good choices. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may want to limit your intake of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks are usually high in sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within normal levels. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t controlled on one medicine it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will assist you to choose the best medicine for your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the chance of developing complications. They are also useful for weight loss, and they come in both tablet and injection forms.