Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that is affecting millions of people each year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help prevent or delay the development of the disease. It is also crucial to know the symptoms, to determine whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health issue that affects how your body transforms food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and use glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t produce enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it properly.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can lead to problems with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also damage your heart arteries and 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. This process can take many years or months until it eventually leads to the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body is not making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormonal substance that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells which is then used as energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their condition by consuming a balanced diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medications to control their blood glucose levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races and ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. However women are at higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk likelihood of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of women suffering from diabetes is increased thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood, and the kidneys aren’t able eliminate it in a proper manner.
The signs of diabetes in men
In diabetes, cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is usually due to the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose 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 feel thirsty and need to drink large quantities of fluids. This can be up to four liters per day.
Men can also lose weight as their bodies make use of muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is because blood sugar levels remain high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar, control your weight, and reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
You should include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products, beans, and legumes are a good choice. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might need to limit your consumption of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain a lot of sugar which can result in high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes like exercise and diet to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled on one medicine it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will guide you to choose the best medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, offer kidney and cardiovascular benefits and reduce the risk of complications. They also help with weight loss, and are available in tablet and injection forms.