Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions each year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it isn’t able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help prevent or delay the progression of the disease. It is also crucial to understand the symptoms so you can identify whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, or fails to use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and use glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it effectively.
The blood sugar levels increase as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can lead to problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. 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 pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. The destruction can take place over many months or even years before resulting in the absence of insulin completely.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They also must monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust the levels of insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body does not utilize insulin in the way it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also need to take medications to control their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
It 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 develop complications, such as heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women who suffer from diabetes. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your blood, and your kidneys cannot eliminate it.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
In diabetes the cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body will then try to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and they have to drink lots of fluids.
Men may also lose weight as their bodies rely on muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels are elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar, manage your weight and reduce heart disease risk factors.
You should include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products and legumes are excellent choices. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may consider limiting your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks usually contain plenty of sugar in them which can result in high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are often combined with changes in lifestyle, like physical activity and diet, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being adequately controlled with one medicine, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor will assist you to pick the best medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the chance of developing complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.