Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that is affecting millions of people each year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the onset of the disease. It is also important to recognize the signs so you can determine if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects the way your body transforms food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or fails to use it correctly.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics do not produce enough insulin or are unable to use it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels are too high over time. This can cause problems with the eyes, kidneys and feet. It can also cause damage to the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition and means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. This destruction can occur over months or even years and eventually lead to the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by those with type 1 diabetes every day. They also have to keep track of their blood glucose levels and adjust their food, insulin and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within a healthy 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, which can then be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and follow a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are more at risk than males.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and vision loss.
One early warning sign of women suffering from diabetes is a higher thirst and increased urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your bloodstream and kidneys can’t remove it.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is usually because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood sugar levels. The body then attempts to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and need to drink plenty of fluids.
The men may also lose weight because their bodies make use of muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a crucial aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar, manage your weight and reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole foods, including fruits vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may also be able to reduce the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. These drinks are often high in sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes-related medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not well controlled with one medication, you might need to add a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to choose the most appropriate medicine for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and come in both tablet and injection forms.