Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and can be treated or delayed through diet, exercise and medications. It’s important to be aware of the symptoms so you can tell whether something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health issue that affects the way your body transforms food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops making enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as well as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps 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.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels get excessively high over time. This can cause problems in the feet, eyes, and kidneys. It can also damage your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. The destruction can take place over months or even for years and eventually lead to the absence of insulin completely.
People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They also must monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their the levels of insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose within an acceptable 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 in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it is used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to control their blood glucose 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. However women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One of the early warning signs of women suffering from diabetes is a rise in thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the bloodstream and your kidneys aren’t equipped to filter it out in a proper manner.
The signs of diabetes in men
In diabetes it is when cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This usually happens because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This causes high blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty and require to drink lots of fluids.
The men may also lose weight since their bodies use muscles for energy instead of fat. This is because their blood sugar levels are high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a vital aspect of managing your condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might consider limiting your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain lots of sugar in them and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are often combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as diet and physical activity, to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed by one medication it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will work with you to pick the best medication for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss, and they come in both tablet and injection forms.