Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions each year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does produce effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the progression of the disease. It is important to understand the symptoms so you can identify whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health issue (long-lasting), which alters how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin or aren’t able to use it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels are too high over time. This can lead to problems with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It may also cause damage to the arteries 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 inside the pancreas. This process can take months or years before eventually resulting in a total lack of insulin.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes must take insulin each day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust food, insulin and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body isn’t making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormonal substance that aids in the movement of glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells which is then used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and follow a healthy diet. They also may need to take medicine to control their blood sugar levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
It is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages and genders. Women are more susceptible than men.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to develop complications, including heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
One of the first signs of diabetes in women is increased thirst and urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in the bloodstream and your kidneys aren’t able to filter it out in a proper manner.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
In the case of diabetes it is when cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. The body tries to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and need to drink plenty of fluids.
The men may also shed weight as their bodies utilize muscle for energy rather than fat. This is because blood sugar levels stay elevated for long periods.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage your weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole food items, including fruits vegetables, whole grains beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You may be advised to limit your consumption of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks typically contain plenty of sugar in them that can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes, such as eating habits and exercise to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being adequately controlled with one medication, you might require a second medication. Your doctor will help you determine the most appropriate medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications like glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.