Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every 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 medication can all help in preventing or delaying the disease. It is important to understand the symptoms to determine if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting) that alters the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, which is known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it properly.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause problems with the eyes, feet, and kidneys. It can also damage the coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, meaning that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This destruction can happen over months or years and eventually lead to an inability to produce insulin.
Insulin is required by people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activities to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers need to treat their condition with a healthy diet and exercise. They also may need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are more at risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes have a higher likelihood of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women with diabetes. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the bloodstream and the kidneys aren’t able remove it in a proper manner.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is usually due to the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This causes high blood sugar levels. Your body will then try to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
People who have diabetes often feel thirsty and need to drink large quantities of fluids. This can be up to 4 liters a day.
Men may also lose weight since their bodies make use of muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is an important part of managing your condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels control weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods like fruits whole grains, vegetables as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might need to limit your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks are typically high in sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as exercise and diet to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled by one medicine then a second medication could be added. Your doctor will assist you select the right medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits and reduce the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.