Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin, or fails to make use of the insulin it produces effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help to prevent or delay the progression of the disease. It is important to be aware of the signs, so you can tell whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting) that impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas stops making enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies are unable to use it effectively.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels can become too high over time. This can cause issues with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. It can also damage your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease, meaning that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. The destruction can take place over months or even years before eventually resulting in an inability to produce insulin.
Type 1 diabetics need to take insulin every day. They also must monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their food, insulin and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t producing insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and follow a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to control their blood glucose levels.
Women with diabetes are afflicted with symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects all races as well as ethnic groups, ages, and genders. However women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to experience complications, such as heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
One of the first signs of women suffering from diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your bloodstream and kidneys are unable to filter it out.
Men with diabetes Men: Symptoms
In diabetes, cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is typically because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body will then attempt to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via 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 experience weight loss because their bodies break down muscle for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain 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 weight and reduce the risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, such as fruits, whole grains, vegetables, beans and low-fat dairy. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may also want to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks typically contain a lot of sugar in them, which can lead to high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in a normal range. These medications are often combined with lifestyle changes, like diet and physical activity, to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar is not being controlled by one medication, you might need to take a different medication. Your doctor can help you determine the most appropriate medicine for your preferences and needs.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the chance of developing complications. They also aid in weight loss, and they come in both tablet and injection forms.