Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that is affecting millions of people each year. It occurs when the body is unable to produce enough insulin, or fails to make use of the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It’s also crucial to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell if something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting) that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops making enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin or their bodies cannot use it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels can become too high over time. This can lead to problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It may also cause damage to the coronary arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. The destruction can take place over many months or even years until it leads to the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body may not utilize insulin in the way it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells which is then used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also have to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects all races and ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. Women are more at risk than males.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications compared to men, including heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for diabetes in women. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the blood, and the kidneys aren’t able remove it in a proper manner.
Men with diabetes Men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition in which cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This usually happens because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes typically experience thirst and require to drink large amounts of fluids, as much as 4 liters a day.
Men can also shed weight as their bodies make use of muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels stay high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, reduce your weight and heart disease risk factors.
Include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products, beans, and legumes are good choices. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might also need to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks often have lots of sugar in them which can result in elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically combined with changes in lifestyle, like diet and physical activity, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well managed on one medication another medicine could be added. Your doctor will help you pick the best medication to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar and offer benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the chance of developing complications. They also aid in weight loss, and are available in tablet and injection forms.