Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition which affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it isn’t able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help prevent or delay the progression of the disease. It is also essential to be aware of the symptoms so you can tell whether something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting) that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops making enough insulin, or fails to use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to use it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels get excessively high over time. This can lead to issues with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also damage the blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks the insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. The process of destruction can last for many years or months until it eventually leads to a total lack of insulin.
Insulin is required by those with type 1 diabetes all 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 an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body isn’t functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it is used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also have to take medications to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races and ethnicities as well as ages and genders. However women are at higher risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to experience complications, including heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women who suffer from diabetes. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your bloodstream and your kidneys are not able to filter it out.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. This is usually because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. The body then attempts to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and they need to drink lots of fluids.
Men may also shed weight as their bodies utilize muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a key element in managing your condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, manage your weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, such as fruits, whole grains, vegetables as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may want to limit your intake of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks usually contain high levels of sugar in them and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not well controlled with one medication, you may require a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to determine the best medicine for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose COtransporter-2 inhibitors decrease blood sugar, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits and lower the risk of complications. They also help with weight loss, and come in both tablets and injections.