Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition which affects millions of people every year. It occurs when the body fails to produce enough insulin, or fails to make use of the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can help to prevent or delay the progression of the disease. It is important to know the symptoms, so you can determine whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health condition that affects the way your body transforms food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas stops making enough insulin or can’t use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it correctly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels get excessively high over time. This can lead to problems with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. It may also cause damage to the arteries in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. This destruction can occur over months or even years before resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They also must monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their the levels of insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be utilized to generate energy.
People with type 2 diabetes have to manage their condition through a healthy diet and regular exercise. They may also have to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, and genders. However women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, such as heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One early warning sign of diabetes in women is a higher thirst and increased urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and your kidneys aren’t able to filter it out effectively.
The signs of diabetes in men
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is typically because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. The body tries to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes frequently feel thirsty and need to drink large quantities of fluids. It can be as much as four liters a day.
Men may be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is an important part of managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, manage your weight and reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Your diet should include plenty of whole food items, including fruits whole grains, vegetables beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may also be able to reduce the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. These drinks typically contain high levels of sugar, which can lead to high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in normal levels. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes such as exercise and diet to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well managed on one medication it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will assist you choose the best medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the chance of developing complications. They are also useful for weight loss and are available in tablets and injections.