Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a terribly debilitating disease that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when the body fails to produce enough insulin, or fails to use the insulin that it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the development of the disease. It is also crucial to be aware of the signs, so you can tell whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health condition that affects the way your body transforms food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or fails to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and use glucose, also referred to as sugar. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin or cannot use it correctly.
In both forms of diabetes, the blood sugar levels become too high over time. This can cause issues with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It could also harm 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 cells that produce insulin and destroys them. This destruction can occur over several months or even years, eventually resulting in the absence of insulin completely.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They also have to keep track of 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 diabetes your body may not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used as energy.
People with type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes through a healthy diet and exercise. They may also need to take medication to control their blood glucose levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more prone to develop complications, such as heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early warning signs of women with diabetes is a rise in thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in the blood, and your kidneys aren’t equipped to filter it out correctly.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
In diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) for energy. This is usually because the pancreas is producing too little insulin.
This results in elevated blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes frequently have a thirsty feeling and must drink large amounts of fluids. It can be as much as 4 liters a day.
Men may be able to experience weight loss too as their bodies break down muscle to make energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is an important part of managing your diabetes. It can help regulate blood sugar levels, manage weight and reduce the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
You should include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products, beans, and legumes are excellent choices. It should be free of saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might be advised to limit your consumption of sweetened drinks with sugar. These drinks typically contain plenty of sugar in them and can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might recommend diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in an acceptable range. These medications are usually combined with changes in lifestyle, like exercise and diet to manage 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 most appropriate medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor antagonists for peptide-1 and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar levels, have kidney and cardiovascular benefits and reduce the risk of complications. They also aid in weight loss and come in both tablet and injection forms.