Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness which affects millions of people every year. It occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or cannot use the insulin that it has effectively.
The good news is that it is treatable and can be prevented or delayed by diet, exercise and medication. It is also essential to recognize the signs so you can tell whether you have a problem and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health problem (long-lasting), which alters how your body converts food into energy. It happens when your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as efficiently as it should.
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb and utilize sugar, which is called glucose. People with type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or their bodies don’t make it work properly.
In both forms of diabetes, blood sugar levels become too high over time. This can cause issues with your feet, eyes, and kidneys. It can also damage the blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by an autoimmune reaction, which means that your immune system attacks the insulin-producing pancreatic cells and destroys them. The destruction can take place over months or years, eventually leading to the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is a requirement for people who suffer from type 1 diabetes each day. They must also keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and adjust their insulin, food, and levels of exercise to keep their blood sugar within the normal range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body isn’t making the insulin it needs to. Insulin is a hormone that assists your cells remove blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells where it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and eat a healthy diet. They may also have to take medication to control their blood sugar levels.
Signs of diabetes in women
It is a chronic illness that affects people of all races, ethnicities and genders. Women are at higher risk than men.
Women with diabetes are more likely to suffer from complications, such as heart disease (the most frequent complication of diabetes) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a warning sign for women with diabetes. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to build up in your blood and your kidneys are not able to eliminate it.
Men with symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when cells are unable to use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. This usually happens because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin.
This causes high blood sugar levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing the excess glucose in your bloodstream via urine.
Diabetes patients are often thirsty, and they have to drink lots of fluids.
Men also may shed weight as their bodies rely on muscles to generate energy, not fat. This is because blood sugar levels stay high for long periods.
A healthy diabetes diet is an important aspect of managing the condition. It can help regulate blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors that can lead to heart disease.
Your diet should comprise plenty of whole foods like fruits, whole grains, vegetables as well as beans and dairy that is low in fat. It should be free of added sugars and saturated fats (unhealthy).
You may consider limiting your consumption of drinks sweetened with sugar. These drinks often have high levels of sugar in them that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications to keep your blood sugar (glucose) levels within a normal range. These medications are often combined with changes in lifestyle, like diet and physical activity, to help manage the condition.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled by one medicine it is possible that a different medicine will be added. Your doctor will work with you to choose the most appropriate medicine for your specific needs and preferences.
Newer medications, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like antagonists for the peptide-1 receptor, decrease blood sugar and have benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the chance of developing complications. They are also useful for weight loss, and are available in tablets and injections.