Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It is caused when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it isn’t 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 know the symptoms, to determine whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting) that alters how your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops producing enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin or their bodies cannot use it effectively.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels are too high in time. This can lead to problems in the feet, eyes, and kidneys. It can also damage the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. This destruction can happen over months or years, eventually leading to the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar levels within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the 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 where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and eat a balanced diet. They may also need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects all races, ethnic groups and ages as well as genders. Women are more susceptible than males.
Women with diabetes are more prone to experience complications, such as heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia can be a warning sign for diabetes in women. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your bloodstream and kidneys can’t remove it.
The signs of diabetes in men
In diabetes the cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is usually due to the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This causes high blood sugar levels. Your body then attempts to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes typically are thirsty and have to drink large amounts of fluids. This can be up to four liters daily.
Men may 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 their blood sugar level remains high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a crucial aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar levels, control your weight, and reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
You should include whole food items in your diet, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products such as beans, legumes, and beans are great choices. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You might need to limit your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks usually contain plenty of sugar in them that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are often combined with lifestyle changes, like diet and physical activity, to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels are not being controlled by one medication, you might need to add a second medication. Your doctor will guide you to choose the best medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, provide kidney and cardiovascular benefits and lower the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.