Diabetes mellitus (lat. Diabetes mellitus) is a chronic, incurable systemic metabolic disease characterized by persistently high blood sugar levels. This is mainly due to hereditary factors and due to reduced secretion or reduced biological effects of the hormone insulin or a combination of both. This deficiency interferes with the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins in the body (which is manifested by typical problems), and after a long period of time affects the structure and function of blood vessels, nerves and other vital organs and organ systems.
Diabetes is one of the most common endocrine diseases with a constantly increasing prevalence (especially in developed countries). This is the result of the modern way of life and the increase in the number of external etiological factors, among which obesity stands out.
Diabetes is most common in older people as a result of generalized degenerative and sclerotic changes in the body (affecting the pancreas), and in young men and women it can be associated with genetic diseases or damage to the pancreas as a result of certain infectious diseases. diseases.
Types of diabetes
Due to the different clinical picture, today there are several forms (types) of diabetes:
- Childhood diabetes (from 0 to 14 years)
- Juvenile diabetes (15 to 24 years)
- Diabetes in adults (25 to 64 years)
- "senile" diabetes (from 65 to the end of life)
Medical experts classify diabetes in their own way:
- Endocrine diabetes, in combination with diseases of the glands with internal secretion (endocrine glands).
- Pancreatogenic diabetes associated with diseases of the pancreas (diabetes).
- Iatrogenic diabetes that occurs in children after the use of certain types of drugs.
- Hepatic (hematogenous) diabetes mellitus, in patients with liver failure and other diseases.
Type 1 diabetes (insulin dependent)
Type 1 diabetes is the most severe form of diabetes and occurs because the cells in the pancreas (beta cells) produce very little or no insulin. It can occur at any age, but is most often seen in children and young adults. Insulin is administered from the first day. A mandatory part of the treatment is strict self-control, diet and physical activity. You can read more about insulin therapy in the article about insulin.
type 2 diabetes
Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes in our country and around the world. The pancreas of patients with the second type produces insulin, but in insufficient quantities, or the body creates resistance (immunity) to the hormone insulin. It occurs at all ages, but mostly in adults (over 40), obese and elderly people. The modern way of life with a high daily routine is very favorable for the development of this type of diabetes. Treatment is with diet or a combination of diet and oral antidiabetic drugs. Herbal teas are used as an aid in all cases of moderate physical exertion. If this therapy does not give a positive result, they switch to insulin therapy with the possibility of using oral antidiabetic agents.
Diabetes during pregnancy (gestational)
This latent form of diabetes is associated with pregnancy, during which there is a change in the hormonal balance in women, which can lead to disturbances in the secretion of insulin and, accordingly, to an increase in blood sugar levels. The risk group includes women over 25 who are overweight before pregnancy, especially those with a genetic predisposition to the development of the disease. Blood sugar levels usually stabilize after the baby is born. However, in a woman, gestational diabetes can later lead to type 2 diabetes.
Symptoms of diabetes
The symptoms of diabetes are often invisible. The first signs of diabetes, especially type 2, may seem minor and harmless to you, if they appear at all. You can have diabetes for months or even years and not see any signs of it.
Understanding the possible symptoms of diabetes can lead to early diagnosis and treatment. If you have any of the following signs and symptoms, see your doctor immediately.
- Intense thirst and frequent urination are classic signs and symptoms of diabetes. In disease, excess sugar (glucose) accumulates in the blood. Your kidneys have to work hard to filter and absorb excess sugar. If your kidneys fail, the excess sugar is excreted in the urine as a fluid from the tissues. This leads to more frequent urination, which can lead to dehydration. You will want to drink more fluids to quench your thirst, which again leads to frequent urination.
- Fatigue can be caused by many factors. It can also be caused by dehydration, frequent urination, and the body's inability to function properly because less sugar can be used for energy.
- Weight loss is also recognized as a possible sign and symptom of diabetes. When you lose sugar through frequent urination, you lose calories. At the same time, diabetics can get sugar from food for the cells, which leads to constant hunger. The overall effect is potentially rapid weight loss, especially if you have type 1 diabetes.
- Symptoms of diabetes can sometimes include vision problems. High blood sugar draws fluid from tissues, including the eyes. This affects the ability to concentrate. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to eye damage. For most people, these early changes do not cause vision problems. However, if these changes do not last for a long time, they can lead to vision loss and blindness.
- Slow wound healing or frequent infections. Doctors and patients have noticed that infections are more common if you have diabetes. However, scientists have not yet been able to explain the reason for this. High blood sugar levels may impair natural wound healing and the ability to fight infection. Bladder and vaginal infections are particularly common in women.
- Numbness in hands and feet. Excess blood sugar can damage nerves. You may notice tingling and numbness in your hands and feet, as well as painful burning sensations in your hands, legs, and feet.
- Red, swollen, sensitive gums. Diabetes can impair the ability to fight germs, increasing the risk of infection of the gums and bones that hold teeth in place. Teeth become loose and inflammation can occur, especially if you have gum infections before diabetes develops.
Type 1 diabetes usually develops quickly and therefore its symptoms are more pronounced. The second type often does not cause unusual problems because it develops gradually and in a very subtle way over many years. It is diagnosed only after complications of diabetes are detected. If you notice possible early signs of diabetes, talk to your doctor. The condition is diagnosed earlier and treatment can begin earlier.
4 causes of diabetes. What does it come from?
- Heredity. The tendency to diabetes is passed directly to the offspring, and the manifestation of the disease can also depend on other factors during life, and this is the reason why diabetes does not appear in every offspring. There are many examples of this diabetes behavior in everyday life. It is known that the children of the parents should not suffer from diabetes. In addition, diabetics themselves are not always closely related to the onset of this disease or do not know the history of diseases of deceased ancestors.
- Other diseases and conditions. Unlike hereditary diabetes mellitus, there are diseases and conditions in which diabetes can also be diagnosed. Such diabetes is called secondary, because it develops under the direct influence of a real disease or a harmful effect on the functioning of the body. What causes diabetes mellitus? The occurrence of the disease is possible with chronic alcoholism, chronic diseases of the pancreas, various endocrine disorders (adrenal glands, pituitary gland, thyroid gland), obesity and other conditions. The appearance of diabetes in these conditions and diseases is associated with impaired breakdown of glucose in the blood under the influence of the same causes that led to the development of this disease or condition.
- Additional risk factors. In addition to the hereditary transmission of the disease, there are other causes of diabetes, such as a diet high in sweets, fat intake and obesity, reduced physical activity, a transition period in men and women (menopause), a tendency to frequent infections, colds and inflammations. It is also known that the risk factors for the development of diabetes in the modern lifestyle include changes in the environment, lifestyle and nutrition (rural - urban), the performance of professional tasks requiring a high mental load (stressful situations), the birth of a largechild (more than 4 kg) and others.
- Effects of some drugs. The first group of drugs that can affect the external manifestation of diabetes includes drugs for rheumatic diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, some drugs for kidney and skin diseases, various allergic diseases. Another group of drugs are products that work on blood pressure and better urination. In addition, oral contraceptives or birth control pills have an effect on blood sugar behavior. There are other drugs and hormones that affect the onset of diabetes. But all these drugs are known to medicine and the control of their intake allows timely removal of behavioral disorders of blood sugar.
Diagnosis of diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is diagnosed in the laboratory. The doctor confirms (or rejects) the diagnosis based on the following data:
- If in two cases the level of fasting blood sugar is more than 7 mmol / l
- If blood sugar at any time during the day is higher than 11. 1 mmol/L
- Your doctor may order a so-called glucose tolerance test (OGTT). This test measures fasting blood sugar and then, after drinking a drink, a sweetened liquid consisting of 75 grams of glucose dissolved in water. Measuring blood sugar confirms the diagnosis of diabetes.
Blood sugar levels can be higher than normal (6 to 7 mmol/L glucose or between 7. 8 and 11. 1 mmol/L 2 hours after the glucose tolerance test) and even lower than the level at whichdiabetes has been diagnosed. A diagnosis of impaired glucose tolerance or prediabetes can be made.
How to treat diabetes?
Diabetes can be treated in several ways:
- insulin and diet;
- Tablet drugs and diet;
- a diet;
- combined insulin therapy + pills (is a very common way for type 2 and obesity, insulin and metformin are taken.
There are 5 basic principles for managing diabetes. The choice of treatment method depends on many factors.
The choice of treatment depends on:
- age (children and young people always receive insulin and diet)
- the complexity of the disease (decrease in insulin production or complete lack of synthesis in the pancreas)
- physical condition (fat, thin or normal weight)
Prevention of diabetes
The prevention of type 2 diabetes involves an individual approach - counseling on the implementation of simple measures that will lead to lifestyle changes. You should change your diet, maintain physical activity, control your body weight, stop smoking and use medicines only as directed by your doctor.
Dietary modification includes food intake according to energy needs, optimal food composition, understanding what can be eaten without restriction, foods high in simple sugars, cooking food, effect of physical activity on energy expenditure.
Physical activity should become a habit. Your daily physical activity schedule should include:
- At least 30 minutes of walking a day.
- Use the stairs instead of the elevator.
- Walking or cycling to work.
- When using transport, get off early and walk the rest of the way.
- Walk to shops and other facilities.
- Monitor children's physical activity.
- Clear the snow and organize gardening.