Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or it can’t use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It is also essential to understand the symptoms so you can determine whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting), which affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or isn’t able to use it correctly.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin or their bodies cannot use it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels become excessively high over time. This can lead to problems in the feet, eyes and kidneys. It can also harm 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 the pancreatic cells that produce insulin and destroys them. The destruction can happen over months or even for years before resulting in a complete lack of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin each 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 the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body isn’t using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it is utilized to generate energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers must treat their condition by eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. They may also have to take medication to regulate their blood glucose levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people from all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to experience complications, like heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for women with diabetes. This is due to diabetes causing excess sugar to build up in the blood and your kidneys aren’t able to remove it in a proper manner.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is typically because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This results in elevated blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and they need to drink lots of fluids.
Men can also shed weight as their bodies rely on muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is because their blood sugar levels are high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a key element in managing your diabetes. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, control your weight, and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products and legumes are good choices. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might want to limit your intake of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks are often packed with sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well managed on one medication then a second medication could be added. Your doctor can help you choose the best medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like 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 are available in injectable and tablet forms.