Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It’s also crucial to be aware of the symptoms to be able to tell if something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health condition that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or is unable to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. People with type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin or their bodies don’t utilize it correctly.
The blood sugar levels rise over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can cause problems with the eyes, feet, and kidneys. It can also damage the heart and brain arteries as well as your 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. This destruction can occur over several months or even years and eventually lead to the absence of insulin completely.
Type 1 diabetics must take insulin each 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 diabetes your body doesn’t make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which is then used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and follow a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
The 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 a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are more prone to experience complications, such as heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the first signs of women suffering from diabetes is a rise in thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to filter it out properly.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
In diabetes, cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is usually because 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 in your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss since their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels are elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is an important part of managing your condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage your weight, and lower the risk of developing heart disease.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods like fruits whole grains, vegetables as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might also consider limiting the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. These drinks are typically packed with sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in an acceptable range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes such as exercise and diet to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled on one medicine another medicine could be added. Your doctor will assist you to choose the most appropriate medication for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the chance of developing complications. They are also useful for weight loss and are available in tablet and injection forms.