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What is Diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus is a Situation in which the pancreas no longer Allows sufficient insulin or cells Quit responding to the insulin that is produced so that glucose in the blood cannot be consumed into the cells of the body.

People who haven’t encountered it may wonder, “What is diabetes?” Also known as diabetes mellitus, diabetes is the name of a group of diseases in which the body is unable to utilize blood sugar for energy properly.

When you eat, food is broken down into a simple sugar called glucose, which quickly enters your bloodstream. Then insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, delivers the blood glucose to individual cells, where it's used to power the entire body. The amount of insulin produced is directly proportionate to the amount of glucose in the blood. This allows the body to utilize most of the energy supplied by food.

But blood glucose can't power a body unless insulin delivers it to the cells. Since people with diabetes either don't produce insulin (Type 1 diabetes) or have cells that develop resistance to the hormone (Type 2 diabetes), the fuel that enters the body isn't used.

Instead, the cells are left hungry, causing fatigue, dizziness, confusion, or fainting spells. Sugar builds up in the bloodstream and becomes toxic over time, eventually damaging the eyes, kidneys, nervous system, immune system, blood vessels, and heart. The disease shaves eight years off of the average man's life.


What warning signs and symptoms of diabetes are the same in men and women?

There are diabetes warning signs and symptoms that both women and men have in common, for example:

  • Weight loss or gain
  • Excessive thirst and hunger
  • Frequent urination
  • Fatigue
  • Irritability
  • Skin infections
  • Nausea
  • Blurred vision
  • Slow-healing wounds
  • Darkening of skin in areas of body creases
  • Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet

Types of Diabetes

There are Three Primary forms—Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, and Gestational diabetes—and, in each case, the body is unable to effectively move the glucose that results from the metabolism of the sugar and starches we eat into the cells of our muscles, brain, and other vital tissues.

Type 1 Diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes, sometimes called insulin-dependent diabetes and previously known as juvenile diabetes, is a condition in which the pancreas doesn't produce enough—or any—insulin. Insulin is a hormone that your body needs to let sugar into your cells to produce energy. Type 1 diabetes usually develops during childhood or adolescence, but it can occur in adults. If you mark that you feel very thirsty, urinate frequently, feel extremely hungry, are losing weight, or experience blurred vision, talk to your Doctor. These can all be symptoms of diabetes. If you have Type 1 diabetes, you will require insulin therapy.

Type 2 Diabetes:
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. In this type, your body doesn't make enough insulin or doesn't use it properly. Initially, your pancreas may make extra insulin, but over time, it can't make enough to keep up. Signs are related to type 1 diabetes, though sometimes milder. Weight loss is not a symptom of type 2, but tingling or numbness in the hands or feet maybe. If you have type 2 diabetes, it is essential to work closely with your health care team to monitor your blood glucose and manage your diabetes. With proper diet, exercise, and sometimes medication lifestyle, you may delay or avoid insulin therapy.

Gestational Diabetes 
Gestational diabetes only occurs during pregnancy. If you have never had diabetes before but have high blood glucose levels during pregnancy, you are said to have gestational diabetes. Medical experts believe the hormones from the placenta may make the mother's insulin less effective. If it's left untreated, it could result in problems for the baby, like a higher risk for breathing problems and obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life.

If you're diagnosed with diabetes or experience any symptoms, talk to your health care provider as soon as possible to get tested or begin treatment before more serious complications can occur.

Conditions which can lead to diabetes

Some states, including genetic syndromes and surgery, can lead to high blood glucose levels and therefore diabetes
Such types of diabetes account for around 1 to 2% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.

Examples of such conditions include:
Glucagonoma - a condition in which the body produces too much of the hormone glucagon
Chronic pancreatitis - a condition which causes inflammation of the pancreas
Cystic fibrosis - a genetic disease that causes mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive system
Pancreatectomy - surgical removal of the pancreas

What Are the Causes of Diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. The body's immune system specifically attacks the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin.

A predisposition to developing type 1 diabetes may run in families, but genetic causes are much more common for type 2 diabetes.
Environmental factors, including common and unavoidable viral infections, may also contribute to type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is most common among people of non-Hispanic, Northern European descent, followed by African Americans, and Hispanic Americans. It is relatively rare among people of Asian descent.
Type 1 diabetes is slightly more common in men than in women.

Type 2 diabetes: Type 2 diabetes has strong genetic links, so type 2 diabetes tends to run in families. Several genes have been linked to type 2 diabetes, and many are under study related to type 2 diabetes. 

Risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes include the following:
High blood pressure
High triglyceride (fat) levels in the blood
Gestational diabetes or giving birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
High-fat diet
High alcohol intake
Sedentary lifestyle
Obesity or being overweight
Ethnicity, mainly when a close relative had type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes. Certain groups have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than non-Hispanic whites.
Aging: Increasing age is a significant risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Risk begins to rise significantly at about age 45 years and rises considerably after the age of 65 years.

What are the Risk factors for diabetes in men?

Gender is a risk factor for diabetes, and men are at higher risk for producing type 2 diabetes than women. Other risk factors for developing diabetes for both men and women include:

  • Family history
  • Ethnicity
  • Obesity
  • Fat distribution
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Smoking
  • Excess alcohol intake
  • Lack of sleep
  • Low testosterone in men
  • An unhealthy diet with high-calorie content containing sugars and lacking beneficial compounds to increase wellness

What Are Treatment Options for Diabetes?

Various treatments exist for diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is treated with insulin, diabetic diet, and other lifestyle modifications. Type 2 diabetes is generally treated with diabetic diet, lifestyle changes such as moderate to vigorous exercise, and medications.

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