Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medication. It is also essential to be aware of symptoms to know what’s wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects the way your body converts food into energy. It occurs when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or is unable to utilize it in a proper manner.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and use glucose, also known as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to make it work properly.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both types of diabetes. This can lead to problems in the feet, eyes and kidneys. It may also damage the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The process of destruction can last for many years or months until it eventually leads to the total absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes all day. They must also monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, your body is not functioning as insulin should. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be used as energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their condition by eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. They might also need to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races and ethnicities age, genders, and ages. However women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes are more prone to experience complications, like heart disease (the most common diabetes-related complication) and loss of vision.
One early warning sign of women with diabetes is a rise in thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excess sugar to build up in the blood and your kidneys aren’t able to eliminate it properly.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
In the case of diabetes it is when cells are unable use blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
This causes high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently are thirsty and have to drink large amounts of fluids. It can be as much as four liters daily.
Men may also experience weight loss since 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 long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diabetes diet is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels control weight and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole foods, including fruits, whole grains, vegetables, beans and low-fat dairy. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may also want to limit the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks you consume. These drinks typically contain plenty of sugar in them and can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within an acceptable range. These medications are typically used with lifestyle changes like exercising and diet to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well controlled by one medicine, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will assist you determine the most appropriate medicine to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar levels and are beneficial for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the chance of developing complications. They also help with weight loss, and come in both tablets and injections.