Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people each year. It occurs when your body isn’t producing enough insulin, or when it’s not able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medication. It’s also crucial to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell what’s wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin or are unable to use it properly.
The blood sugar levels increase over time in both kinds of diabetes. This can lead to problems with your eyes, feet, and kidneys. It may also damage your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction which means that your immune system attacks the pancreatic insulin-producing cells and destroys them. The destruction can take place over months or even for years until it leads to the absence of insulin completely.
People suffering from type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within the healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes the body does not make use of 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.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also need to take medication to regulate their blood glucose levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects all races and ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. Women are at higher risk than males.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to develop complications, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes), and vision loss.
One of the early warning signs of diabetes in women is a rise in thirst and urinary frequency, also known as polydipsia. This is because diabetes can create excess sugar in your blood and kidneys can’t remove it.
Men who suffer from diabetes show signs
Diabetes is a disease in which cells are not able to use glucose (blood sugar) as energy source. This is typically due to the fact that the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This results in high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to reduce these levels by flushing the excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes frequently experience thirst and require to drink large quantities of fluids. It can be as much as four liters daily.
The men may also lose weight since their bodies make use of muscle for energy rather than fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar level remains high for extended 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, manage weight and decrease the risk factors for heart diseases.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole foods like fruits whole grains, vegetables beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be low in added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You might also need to limit the amount of sweetened drinks with sugar you consume. These drinks are often high in sugar which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels within a normal range. These medications are usually combined with changes in lifestyle, like eating habits and physical activity to manage diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being adequately controlled with one medication, you may require a second medication. Your doctor will help you pick the best medication to suit your preferences and needs.
Newer medicines like glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors lower blood sugar, have cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and reduce the risk of complications. They are also beneficial for weight loss and are available in tablet and injectable forms.