Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease which affects millions of people every year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin or it isn’t able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can all help in preventing or delaying the onset of the disease. It’s also crucial to be aware of symptoms to know what’s wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to properly use it.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies are unable to use it properly.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both types of diabetes. This can cause issues with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It can also harm the arteries in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. This process can last for months or even for years before resulting in an absence of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of exercise to maintain their blood sugar within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They also may need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are more susceptible than males.
Women with diabetes are more prone to experience complications, such as heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes), and vision loss.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for women suffering from diabetes. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your bloodstream and kidneys are unable to filter it out.
The signs of diabetes in men
In diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. The body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and they have to drink a lot of fluids.
Men may also shed weight as their bodies rely on muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels are high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a vital aspect of managing your condition. It can help manage blood sugar levels control weight and reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole food items, including fruits vegetables, whole grains, beans and low-fat dairy. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may also need to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks are typically high in sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These drugs are often paired with lifestyle changes, like physical activity and diet, to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled by one medicine, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will assist you to determine the most appropriate medication to meet your needs and preferences.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the risk of developing complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.