Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people every year. It occurs because the body doesn’t make enough insulin or use the insulin that it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be treated and avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It’s also important to be aware of symptoms so you can tell what’s wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health issue (long-lasting) that alters the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops making enough insulin, or fails to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. People with type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin, or their bodies can’t make it in a proper way.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels can become too high in time. This can lead to problems in the feet, eyes and kidneys. It may also cause damage to the blood vessels in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease in which your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. This process can take several years or even decades, eventually leading to the complete absence of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of activity to keep their blood sugar in the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the body isn’t producing insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells take blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used for energy.
People with type 2 diabetes have to manage their condition through a healthy diet and regular exercise. They also may need to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
It is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. However women are at a greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to develop complications, such as heart disease (the most common complication associated with diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the early signs of women suffering from diabetes is a rise in thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your blood and your kidneys are not able to remove it.
Diabetes in men Men: Symptoms
Diabetes is a condition where cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is usually due to the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This leads to high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently are thirsty and have to drink large amounts of fluids, as much as four liters per day.
Men may be able to experience weight loss too as 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 extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
The development of a healthy diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
You should include whole food items 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 a good choice. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may want to limit your intake of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks typically contain plenty of sugar in them which can result in high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes such as exercising and diet to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being controlled by one medicine, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will assist you to choose the most appropriate medicine for your requirements and preferences.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of complications. They also help with weight loss and are available in tablet and injection forms.