Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It happens when the body does not produce enough insulin or use the insulin that it produces effectively.
Exercise, diet and medications can help to prevent or delay the progression of the disease. It is also important to recognize the signs to determine if there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or can’t use it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is called glucose. People with type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t utilize it correctly.
The blood sugar levels rise with time in both forms of diabetes. This can cause problems with your feet, eyes and kidneys. It could also harm your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease which means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This destruction can occur over months or even for years, eventually resulting in the absence of insulin completely.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their food, insulin and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within an acceptable range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body is not making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used to create energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their condition by eating a balanced diet and exercise. They may also have to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. However women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk likelihood of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and vision loss.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women suffering from diabetes. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood, and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to get rid of it correctly.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are unable to utilize glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This usually happens because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This causes high blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose out of your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes typically experience thirst and require to drink large quantities of fluids. It can be as much as four liters per day.
Men may also experience weight loss because their muscles are broken down by their bodies for energy instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels stay high for extended periods.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet with a low-carbohydrate diet can be a key part of managing the condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors for heart diseases.
Your diet should consist of 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 might also consider limiting the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages you consume. These drinks are often high in sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may recommend diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within an acceptable range. These drugs are often paired with changes to your lifestyle, such as diet and physical activity, to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being controlled by one medication, you may require a second medication. Your doctor will assist you determine the most appropriate medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the chance of developing complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and they are available in tablet and injection forms.