Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it’s unable to utilize the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and can be avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medications. It’s also crucial to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell if something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting), which alters the way your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or fails to properly use it.
Insulin is a hormone that assists cells absorb and utilize sugar, also known as glucose. People suffering from type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies can’t use it properly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels become excessively high over time. This can lead to problems with your eyes, kidneys and feet. It could also cause damage to arteries in your heart and brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. The destruction can take place over many months or even years and eventually lead to an absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by people with type 1 diabetes all day. They must also monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust their the levels of insulin, food and activity levels in order to keep their blood glucose 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 helps your cells to remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used as energy.
Type 2 diabetics must exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to manage their blood glucose levels.
Women with diabetes are more likely to experience symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people from all races, ethnicities, and genders. Women are more at risk than males.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications compared to men, such as heart disease (the most commonly reported diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the early signs of diabetes in women is a higher thirst and increased urine, a condition known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your blood, and your kidneys cannot filter it out.
Men with diabetes: Symptoms
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are unable use glucose (blood sugar) as energy. This is typically because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
This can lead to high blood glucose levels. The body tries to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently feel thirsty and need to drink large amounts of fluids. It can be as much as four liters per day.
Men also may lose weight because their bodies use muscles for energy instead of fat. This is because blood sugar levels are high for prolonged periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet with a low-carbohydrate diet is a crucial aspect of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar levels, reduce your weight and risk factors for heart disease.
It is important to include whole foods in your diet, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products and legumes are a good choice. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fat and added sugars.
You may also want to limit the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks are usually packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might prescribe diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes, such as exercising and diet to help manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t being well managed on one medication, a second medicine might be added. Your doctor will assist you to determine the most appropriate medicine to meet your needs and preferences.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels, provide cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They are also useful for weight loss, and they come in both tablet and injection forms.