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 it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medication. It’s also important to be aware of symptoms to know whether something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting), which affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or isn’t able to properly use it.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin, or their bodies are unable to use it effectively.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels get too high in time. This can lead to problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also harm the 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 pancreatic cells that produce insulin, and destroys them. This process can take months or years and eventually lead to the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activities to maintain their blood sugar within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells which is then utilized to generate energy.
People with type 2 diabetes have to manage their condition by eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. They also may need to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to experience complications, like heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for women with diabetes. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your blood and your kidneys are not able to filter it out.
Men with diabetes The signs and symptoms
In diabetes, cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is typically because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. The body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently feel thirsty and need to drink large amounts of fluids, as much as four liters a day.
Men may also experience weight loss as 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 prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a vital aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar, manage your weight and reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods, including fruits whole grains, vegetables beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may want to limit your intake of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks are often high in sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled by one medicine it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will assist you to choose the best medication for your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of developing complications. They are also useful for weight loss, and are available in tablets and injections.