Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. Normally, your body breaks down most of the food you eat into sugar (glucose) and releases it into your bloodstream. When your blood sugar goes up, it signals your pancreas to release insulin, which acts like a key to let the glucose into your cells for use as energy. With diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use the insulin it makes as well as it should. This leads to too much blood sugar staying in your bloodstream, which can cause serious health problems over time, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.
The symptoms of diabetes can vary depending on how high your blood sugar levels are. Some of the common signs include increased thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, fatigue, and blurred vision. You might also experience slow-healing sores or frequent infections, as high blood sugar levels can impair your body’s ability to heal and fight off infections. In some cases, people with type 2 diabetes may have symptoms so mild that they go unnoticed for a long time, while symptoms in type 1 diabetes often appear more suddenly and can be severe.
Treatment for diabetes focuses on managing blood sugar levels through a combination of lifestyle changes, monitoring, and medication. Dietary adjustments like eating a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are crucial. Regular physical activity also helps keep blood sugar levels in check. Monitoring your blood sugar levels is essential to understand how food, activity, and stress affect your blood sugar. Medications, including insulin and oral diabetes drugs, may also be necessary to help maintain optimal blood sugar levels. Each treatment plan is individualized, so it’s important to work closely with your healthcare provider to manage the condition effectively and reduce the risk of complications.