Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease which affects millions of people every year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it can’t use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and can be avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It is also essential to know the symptoms, so you can identify whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which alters how your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops producing enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can cause problems with the 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 an auto-immune disease which means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. The destruction can happen over months or even years, eventually resulting in the absence of insulin completely.
People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust food, insulin and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body isn’t using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells which can then be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
It is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. However, women are at a higher risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to experience complications, like heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
One of the first signs of women suffering from diabetes is a higher thirst and increased the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your bloodstream, and your kidneys cannot filter it out.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
Diabetes is a condition where cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is usually due to the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body will then attempt to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss because their bodies break down muscle for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar, reduce your weight and risk factors for heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products as well as legumes, beans and beans are a good choice. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might want to limit your intake of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks usually contain plenty of sugar in them, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes, such as eating habits and exercise to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being controlled by one medication, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will guide you to pick the best medication to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of developing complications. They are also useful for weight loss and come in both tablet and injection forms.