Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when the body fails to produce enough insulin or cannot use the insulin that it produces effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It’s important to be aware of the symptoms to be able to tell what’s wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops making enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies cannot use it effectively.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can cause problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also damage 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 insulin-producing cells and destroys them. This process can take many years or months before eventually resulting in a total lack of insulin.
Insulin is required by those with type 1 diabetes all day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activities to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the 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 is then used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also have to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people from all races, ethnicities and genders. However women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One of the first signs of women with diabetes is a rise in thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your blood, and your kidneys cannot remove it.
The signs of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This is typically because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This results in high blood sugar levels. Your body will then attempt to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently experience thirst and require to drink large quantities of fluids, up to four liters a day.
Men may also experience weight loss as their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy, instead of fat. This is because blood sugar levels are elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet with a low-carbohydrate diet can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, control your weight, and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should include plenty of whole food items, including fruits whole grains, vegetables as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might also consider limiting the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks are usually packed with sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within a normal range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes, such as exercising and diet to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t controlled by one medicine, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will assist you to select the best medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose inhibitors that lower blood sugar levels, offer cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They also help with weight loss, and come in both tablets and injections.