Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that is affecting millions of people each year. It is caused because the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or make use of the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can all help in preventing or delaying the disease. It’s also crucial to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell if something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects the way your body turns food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, which is known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin or cannot use it in a proper way.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels are too high over time. This can cause problems in the feet, eyes, and kidneys. It may also cause damage to the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This destruction can happen over months or years before eventually resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics require insulin every day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of activity to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also need to take medications to control their blood glucose levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. However women are at higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a greater likelihood of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for women who suffer from diabetes. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the blood and your kidneys aren’t equipped to filter it out properly.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
In diabetes, cells are unable to use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This usually happens because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People who have diabetes often feel thirsty and need to drink large amounts of fluids. This can be up to four liters daily.
Men can be able to experience weight loss too as their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, reduce your weight and the risk of developing heart disease.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, 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 drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks are usually packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within a normal range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes, such as eating habits and exercise to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t controlled by one medicine, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will help you select the right medicine for your preferences and needs.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike 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 are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.