Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness which affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it’s not able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medication. It’s important to be aware of symptoms to determine whether something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting) that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops making enough insulin or can’t use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t use it properly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels get excessively high over time. This can cause issues with the eyes, feet, and kidneys. It can also damage the arteries in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder and means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. This destruction can happen over many years or months until it eventually leads to the total absence of insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for people with type 1 diabetes all day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activities to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used for energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes have to manage their condition through a healthy diet and regular exercise. They might also need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, like heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early signs of diabetes in women is a higher thirst and increased urination, called polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to get rid of it in a proper manner.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
In diabetes the cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is typically because the pancreas ceases to produce enough insulin.
This can lead to elevated blood sugar levels. The body then attempts to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes frequently are thirsty and have to drink large amounts of fluids. This can be up to four liters per day.
Men also may shed weight as their bodies utilize muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is an important part of managing your condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar, reduce your weight and the risk of developing heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products and legumes are excellent choices. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might also consider limiting the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks are often high in sugar which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in an acceptable range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes, like eating habits and physical activity to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled on one medicine, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will work with you to choose the most appropriate medication for your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the chance of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and they are available in tablets and injections.