Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it’s not able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and prevented or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It is also essential to be aware of the symptoms to know whether something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health issue that affects the way your body transforms food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or fails to use it correctly.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin, or their bodies are unable to use it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels get too high in time. This can lead to problems with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. It can also damage your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease and means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. This process can last for several months or even years, eventually resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by people with type 1 diabetes all day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to maintain their blood sugar within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body may not make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it is used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and follow a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people from all races, ethnicities and genders. However women are at higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications than men, such as heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for women with diabetes. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your blood and kidneys can’t filter it out.
Men with diabetes The signs and symptoms
In the case of diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is usually because the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body will then attempt to lower the levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently experience thirst and require to drink large quantities of fluids, as much as four liters a day.
Men can also experience weight loss since their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy, instead of fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A balanced diet for diabetes is a crucial aspect of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage your weight, and lower the risk of developing heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products as well as legumes, beans and beans are excellent choices. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may also want to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks typically contain high levels of sugar which can result in high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically combined with lifestyle changes such as eating habits and exercise to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being controlled by one medicine, you may need to take a different medication. Your doctor will help you determine the most appropriate medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose inhibitors that lower blood sugar, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits and lower the risk of complications. They also help with weight loss, and they are available in tablets and injections.