Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people each year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it’s not able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help to prevent or delay the onset of the disease. It is also essential to recognize the signs so you can tell whether you are suffering from a condition and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition (long-lasting), which impacts the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or fails to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin, or their bodies can’t use it properly.
The blood sugar levels rise with time in both forms of diabetes. This can lead to problems in the feet, eyes, and kidneys. 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 pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. This destruction can happen over many years or months and eventually lead to a total lack of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of activity to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body isn’t making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormone that aids your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which is then used as energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes have to manage their condition by eating a balanced diet and exercise. They also may need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. However women are at greater risk than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to develop complications, like heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for women with diabetes. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your bloodstream and kidneys are unable to filter it out.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition where cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This usually happens because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This leads to high blood sugar levels. Your body will then try to lower these levels by flushing out the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and need to drink plenty of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss 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 prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar, manage your weight and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
You should 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 free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might want to limit your intake of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain plenty of sugar in them, which can lead to high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may suggest diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within a normal range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes like eating habits and exercise to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed on one medication, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will assist you to select the most appropriate medication for your needs and preferences.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits and reduce the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.