Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and can be prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It is also essential to be aware of the signs, to determine whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting) that alters how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas stops making enough insulin or can’t use it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin, or their bodies are unable to use it properly.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can lead to problems with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also cause damage to the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease, meaning that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This process can take many years or months and eventually lead to an inability to produce insulin.
Insulin is required by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar in the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the body isn’t using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used to create energy.
People with type 2 diabetes need to treat their condition by eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. They may also have 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 and ethnic groups, ages, and genders. Women are more at risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to suffer from complications, like 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 your blood and your kidneys aren’t equipped to eliminate it effectively.
Men with diabetes Men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition where cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This is usually due to the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body will then try to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and they have to drink lots of fluids.
Men can also lose weight since their bodies make use of muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce risk factors for heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products, beans, and legumes are a good choice. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may consider limiting your consumption of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks usually contain a lot of sugar which can result in high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These drugs are often paired with changes to your lifestyle, such as physical activity and diet, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t managed by one medication then a second medication could be added. Your doctor will assist you to choose the best medication for your requirements and preferences.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.