Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people each year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it’s not able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and can be avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It is also essential to be aware of the symptoms so you can tell what’s wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body transforms food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or fails to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is called glucose. People with type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin or their bodies don’t use it properly.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels can become excessively high over time. This can lead to problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It may also damage your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. The destruction can take place over months or even for years, eventually resulting in the absence of insulin completely.
People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activities to maintain their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it is utilized to generate energy.
People with type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes through a healthy diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medication to control their blood glucose levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects all races as well as ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. Women are more at risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to develop complications, including heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for diabetes in women. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the bloodstream and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to filter it out correctly.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
In the case of diabetes it is when cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is typically because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty and require to drink lots of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss as their bodies break down muscle for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help control blood sugar levels control weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole food items, including fruits whole grains, vegetables beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may also need to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks usually contain a lot of sugar in them that can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet to help 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 assist you determine the most appropriate medicine for your preferences and needs.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar levels, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits and reduce the risk of complications. They are also useful for weight loss and come in both tablets and injections.