Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people each year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it’s not able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can aid in preventing or reducing the onset of the disease. It is also important to recognize the signs so you can identify whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness (long-lasting), which alters the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas stops making enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and use glucose, also referred to as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin, or their bodies can’t utilize it correctly.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels get too high over time. This can cause issues with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. It can also damage your heart arteries and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease, meaning that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells within the pancreas. This destruction can happen over many years or months, eventually leading to the total absence of insulin.
Type 1 diabetics require insulin every day. They must also monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust food, insulin and activity levels in order to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 the body isn’t using insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells move glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, where it can be used to create energy.
Type 2 diabetes sufferers need to treat their diabetes by eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. They may also need to take medications to control their blood glucose levels.
Diabetes in women symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnic groups age, genders, and ages. Women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to develop complications, like heart disease (the most frequent diabetes-related complication), and vision loss.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for women with diabetes. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in the bloodstream and your kidneys aren’t able to remove it in a proper manner.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
In the case of diabetes the cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to generate energy. This is usually because the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body then attempts to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
People with diabetes frequently are thirsty and have to drink large amounts of fluids. This can be up to four liters daily.
Men can also lose weight since their bodies use muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that the blood sugar level stays high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
Making a balanced diabetes diet is a vital aspect of managing your condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors for heart diseases.
You should include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, dairy products that are low in fat products and legumes are great choices. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may be advised to limit your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks are often packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to increase.
Diabetes medication
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 exercise and diet to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar is not being adequately controlled with one medication, you might need to add a second medication. Your doctor will assist you to determine the best medication for your requirements and preferences.
Newer medicines, such as sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 inhibitors as well as glucagon antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while decreasing the chance of developing complications. They are also useful for weight loss and are available in tablet and injection forms.