Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin or it isn’t able to use the insulin it does produce effectively.
The good news is that it is curable and prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medications. It’s also crucial to be aware of symptoms so you can tell what’s wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health condition that affects the way your body turns food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it as well as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics don’t make enough insulin, or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it effectively.
In both types of diabetes, blood sugar levels can become excessively high over time. This can cause problems with your feet, eyes, and kidneys. It may also cause damage to the blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder 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 years and eventually lead to the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by those with type 1 diabetes every day. They also have to keep track of their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and levels of activity to keep their blood sugar in the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t utilize insulin in the way 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 as energy.
People with type 2 diabetes need to treat their condition through a healthy diet and regular exercise. They also may need to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are at greater risk than men.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications compared to men, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and vision loss.
One of the early signs of women suffering from diabetes is a rise in thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can result in excess sugar accumulation in your blood and your kidneys are not able to remove it.
Diabetes in men The signs and symptoms
In diabetes the cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is usually because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream through urine.
Patients with diabetes typically experience thirst and require to drink large amounts of fluids, as much as four liters a day.
Men can also experience weight loss since their muscles are broken down by their bodies for 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 diet with a low-carbohydrate diet can be an essential part of managing the condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels and weight, as well as reduce the risk factors for heart diseases.
Your diet should include plenty of whole foods like fruits whole grains, vegetables beans, and low-fat dairy. It should be low in saturated fats and sugars as well as added sugars (unhealthy).
You might be advised to limit your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks often have lots of sugar that can cause elevated blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within the normal range. These medications are usually combined with changes to your lifestyle, such as diet and physical activity, to manage the condition.
If your blood sugar is not being managed well with one medicine, you may require a second medication. Your doctor will assist you to determine the best medicine for your needs and preferences.
Newer medications, like sodium-glucose -cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and glucagon antagonists of the peptide-1 receptor, reduce blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of complications. They are also useful for weight loss, and come in both tablets and injections.