Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people every year. It occurs when the body fails to produce enough insulin or cannot make use of the insulin it produces effectively.
The good news is that it can be cured and can be avoided or delayed with diet, exercise and medication. It is also crucial to know the symptoms, so you can identify whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that affects how your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, or fails to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that helps your body to absorb and utilize glucose, also known as sugar. People suffering from type 2 diabetes aren’t able to make enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels rise as time passes in both types of diabetes. This can cause issues in the feet, eyes, and kidneys. It can also cause damage to the heart and brain arteries as well as your brain.
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. This process can take months or years until it eventually leads to the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is needed by people with type 1 diabetes every day. They also need to monitor their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood glucose within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes your body may not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone which helps your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used for energy.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes need to treat their diabetes with a healthy diet and exercise. They also may need to take medication to manage their blood sugar levels.
Signs of women having diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races and ethnicities, ages, and genders. However women are at a higher risk than males.
Women who suffer from diabetes are more likely to experience complications, like heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
One of the early signs of women with diabetes is increased thirst and urination, called polydipsia. This is because diabetes causes excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and the kidneys aren’t able get rid of it properly.
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 typically due to the fact that the pancreas produces too little insulin.
This leads to high blood sugar levels. Your body attempts to reduce these levels by flushing excess glucose out of your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are frequently thirsty, and need to drink plenty of fluids.
The men may also shed weight as their bodies utilize muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a crucial aspect of managing the condition. It can help you control blood sugar, manage your weight, and lower the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Include whole foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, low-fat dairy products and legumes are a good choice. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might want to limit your intake of beverages sweetened with sugar. These drinks are often packed with sugar which can cause blood sugar levels in the body to increase.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor might recommend diabetes medication to keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in normal levels. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise to help you manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels are not being adequately controlled with one medication, you may need to add a second medication. Your doctor will work with you to determine the best medicine for your needs and preferences.
Newer medications such as glucagon-like receptor agonists for peptide-1 as well as sodium-glucose inhibitors that lower blood sugar levels, offer cardiovascular and kidney benefits, and lower the risk of complications. They also help with weight loss and are available in tablets and injections.