Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people each year. It occurs because the body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or fails to utilize the insulin it has effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the development of the disease. It is also important to be aware of the signs, to determine whether there is a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting), which alters how your body converts food into energy. It happens when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or is unable to use it properly.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin or are unable to use it properly.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels are excessively high over time. This can cause problems with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It may also damage the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. This destruction can occur over many months or even years until it leads to a complete lack of insulin.
Insulin is required by those with type 1 diabetes every day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to maintain their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 your body isn’t using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetics should exercise and follow a healthy diet. They may also need to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all races as well as ethnic groups age, genders, and ages. Women are more at risk than men.
Women with diabetes have a higher chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is one of the warning signs for women who suffer from diabetes. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood and your kidneys aren’t equipped to eliminate it effectively.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
In diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This usually happens because the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body then attempts to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
Patients with diabetes are usually thirsty, and need to drink a lot of fluids.
Men may also lose weight because their bodies use muscles 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
A healthy diet for diabetes is a vital aspect of managing your diabetes. It can help you control blood sugar levels, reduce your weight and the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should also be low in saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may need to limit your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks often have a lot of sugar in them which can result in high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes such as eating habits and exercise to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being controlled by one medication, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will assist you to pick the best medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer drugs like glucagonlike receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, provide kidney and cardiovascular benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They can also be beneficial for weight loss, and they come in both tablets and injections.