Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions each year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and can be prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medication. It is also crucial to be aware of the signs, to determine whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects the way your body turns food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or isn’t able to properly use it.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin or are unable to use it correctly.
The blood sugar levels increase as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can lead to problems with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also damage the arteries in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. The destruction can take place over many years or months, eventually leading to the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for people with type 1 diabetes every day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activity levels to keep their blood sugar levels within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the body isn’t using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone which 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 must treat their condition by eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. They might also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people from all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are more susceptible than men.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for women suffering from diabetes. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your blood and kidneys can’t filter it out.
Men with diabetes The signs and symptoms
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This usually happens because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes typically experience thirst and require to drink large amounts of fluids. This can be up to four liters daily.
Men may also lose weight since their bodies make use of muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels control weight and reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
Include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products, beans, and legumes are great choices. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may need to limit your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks usually contain high levels of sugar and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as exercise and diet to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t controlled on one medicine, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will guide you to determine the most appropriate medicine for your preferences and needs.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the risk of complications. They also help with weight loss and come in both tablet and injection forms.