Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help prevent or delay the disease. It is also essential to be aware of symptoms to know whether something is wrong and get 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 the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or is unable to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies can’t make it work properly.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels get too high in time. This can cause issues with your eyes, feet and kidneys. It can also damage the arteries in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. This process can take many years or months, eventually leading to a total lack of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics need to take insulin every day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their food, insulin and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the body isn’t producing insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which can then be utilized to generate energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers have to manage their condition by consuming a balanced diet and exercise. They may also need to take medications to control their blood glucose levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are more at risk than males.
Women with diabetes are more likely to develop complications, like heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes), 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 due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood, and your kidneys aren’t equipped to get rid of it in a proper manner.
Men with diabetes The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is typically because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and they need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men can also lose weight because their bodies make use of muscles 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
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar, reduce your weight and the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
You should include whole food items in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products, beans, and legumes are excellent choices. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might also be able to reduce the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks typically contain plenty of sugar which can result in high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These drugs are often paired with changes to your lifestyle, such as eating habits and physical activity to help manage the condition.
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 guide you to pick the best medication for your preferences and needs.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor agonists, peptide-1, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, offer kidney and cardiovascular benefits and lower the risk of complications. They also help with weight loss, and they come in both tablets and injections.