Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that is affecting millions of people each year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it can’t use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help prevent or delay the development of the disease. It is also important to understand the symptoms so you can determine whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects the way your body turns food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or isn’t able to properly use it.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, which is known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it in a proper way.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels become too high in time. This can cause issues with your feet, eyes, and kidneys. It may also cause damage to the blood vessels in your heart as well as the 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 process can take many years or months, eventually leading to the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by people with type 1 diabetes all day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the body isn’t making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers need to treat their condition through a healthy diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects all races as well as ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. Women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a greater chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and vision loss.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for women with diabetes. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the bloodstream and your kidneys aren’t able to get rid of it properly.
The signs of diabetes in men
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is usually because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This leads to high blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes typically experience thirst and require to drink large quantities of fluids. This can be up to four liters daily.
The men may also lose weight as their bodies use muscle for energy rather than fat. This is because blood sugar levels stay high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a key element in managing your diabetes. It can help regulate blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors for 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 low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may also consider limiting the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks are usually high in sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes, such as exercising and diet to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t managed by one medication, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will guide you to pick the best medication to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, provide kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They also help with weight loss, and they are available in tablets and injections.