Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It happens when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can all help in preventing or delaying the onset of the disease. It is also crucial to know the symptoms, so you can identify whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops making enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin, or their bodies can’t utilize it correctly.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can lead to problems with your eyes, feet and kidneys. It could also cause damage to 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 the pancreatic cells that produce insulin, and destroys them. This destruction can occur over many months or even years, eventually resulting in the absence of insulin completely.
Type 1 diabetics must take insulin each day. They also must monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust the insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body may not make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which is then used as energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers must treat their condition by consuming a balanced diet and regular exercise. They may also have to take medication to regulate their blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
It is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, such as heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes), and vision loss.
One of the first signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your bloodstream and kidneys can’t remove it.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. The body tries to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and need to drink lots of fluids.
Men can also experience weight loss since their bodies break down muscle to make energy, instead of fat. This is because blood sugar levels remain high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a key element in managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar, manage your weight, and lower risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods, such as fruits, whole grains, vegetables beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may be advised to limit your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks are often high in sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in an acceptable range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t controlled on one medicine then a second medication could be added. Your doctor will guide you to pick the best medication for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as reducing the risk of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and come in both tablets and injections.