Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions each year. It is caused when your body isn’t producing enough insulin or it’s not able to use the insulin it does have effectively.
Diet, exercise and medication can help to prevent or delay the onset of the disease. It’s important to be aware of symptoms so you can tell if something is wrong and get treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health issue that affects how your body converts food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin, or fails to use it as well as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells absorb and use sugar, which is called glucose. Type 2 diabetics aren’t producing enough insulin or their bodies aren’t able to utilize it in a proper way.
The blood sugar levels increase with time in both forms of diabetes. This can lead to problems in the kidneys, eyes and feet. It may also damage your brain and heart arteries.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease and means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells inside the pancreas. This process can take several years or even decades before eventually resulting in a total lack of insulin.
People with type 1 diabetes require insulin every day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food and activities to keep their blood sugar in the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes the body does not make insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormonal substance that assists your cells in moving glucose (blood sugar) from your blood into your cells, which can then be utilized to generate energy.
Type 2 diabetics have to exercise and adhere to a healthy diet. They may also need to take medications to manage their blood sugar levels.
The signs of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects all races as well as ethnic groups as well as ages and genders. However women are at a higher risk than males.
Women with diabetes have a higher likelihood of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most frequent diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
One of the first signs of women suffering from diabetes is increased thirst and the frequency of urination, which is known as polydipsia. This is due to diabetes causing excessive sugar to accumulate in your blood and your kidneys don’t have the capacity to eliminate it effectively.
Symptoms of diabetes in men
In diabetes the cells are unable make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is usually because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin.
This can lead to elevated blood sugar levels. Your body will then attempt to lower the level by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
People with diabetes are typically thirsty, and need to drink lots of fluids.
Men may also experience weight loss as their bodies break down muscle for energy instead of fat. This is due to the fact that their blood sugar levels remain high for long periods of time.
Diabetes diet
A healthy diet for diabetes is a vital aspect of managing your condition. It can help you manage your blood sugar levels, control your weight, and reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing risk factors.
Your diet should consist of plenty of whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You might need to limit your consumption of drinks that are sweetened with sugar. These drinks are typically high in sugar and can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Diabetes medications
Your doctor may suggest diabetes medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in the normal range. These medications are typically paired with lifestyle changes like exercising and diet to manage your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well managed by one medication it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will guide you to choose the best medicine for your personal preferences and needs.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists of the peptide-1 receptors, lower blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, while reducing the chance of developing complications. They also help with weight loss and are available in tablets and injections.