Diabetes mellitus (diabetes mellitus) is a chronic, incurable systemic metabolic disorder characterized by persistently high blood glucose levels. This is mainly due to genetic factors and due to decreased secretion or biological effects of the hormone insulin or a combination of the two. This deficiency interferes with the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins in the body (manifested by typical problems), which over a long period of time affects the structure and function of blood vessels, nerves. nervous system and other important organs and systems.
Diabetes is one of the common endocrine disorders with an increasing rate (especially in developed countries). This is the result of modern lifestyle and an increase in the number of extrinsic factors, among which obesity is prominent.
Diabetes is most common in older adults due to systemic degenerative and sclerotic changes in the body (affecting the pancreas), and in young men and women it may be associated with a genetic disorder. transmission or damage to the pancreas from certain infections. diseases.
Types of diabetes
Due to the different clinical picture, today there are several forms (types) of diabetes:
- Diabetes in children (0-14 years old)
- Juvenile diabetes (15 to 24 years old)
- Diabetes in adults (25 to 64 years old)
- "older" diabetes (beyond age 65 for the rest of life)
Specialist doctors classify diabetes in their own way:
- Endocrine diabetes, associated with diseases of the endocrine glands (endocrine glands).
- Diabetes is caused by diseases of the pancreas (diabetes).
- Clonal diabetes, which occurs in children after the use of certain drugs.
- Hepatic (blood) diabetes, 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 cells in the pancreas (beta cells) produce little or no insulin. It can occur at any age, but is most commonly seen in children and young adults. Insulin is applied from day one. Strict self-control, diet, and physical activity are a required part of treatment. About insulin therapy, you can read more in the article on insulin.
type 2 diabetes
Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes in our country and around the world. The pancreas of a second type patient produces insulin, but in insufficient amounts, or the body creates resistance (immunity) to the hormone insulin. It occurs at any age, but mainly in adults (over 40), obese people, and the elderly. Modern lifestyle with high daily pace is very beneficial for the development of this type of diabetes. Treatment is with diet or a combination of diet and oral antidiabetic drugs. Herbal tea is used as an aid in all cases of moderate physical activity. If this therapy fails, they switch to insulin therapy, with the possibility of using oral antidiabetic drugs.
Diabetes during pregnancy (pregnancy)
This latent form of diabetes is associated with pregnancy, in which there are changes in the hormonal balance in women, which can lead to disturbances in insulin secretion and thus, increased blood glucose levels. The risk group includes women over 25 who were overweight before becoming pregnant, especially those with a genetic predisposition to the disease. Blood sugar levels usually stabilize after the baby is born. However, in women, gestational diabetes can later be the cause of type 2 diabetes.
Symptoms of diabetes
The symptoms of diabetes are often invisible. The first signs of diabetes, especially type 2, may seem small and harmless to you, if they are present at all. You can have diabetes for months, even years, and not see any signs of it.
Understanding the possible symptoms of diabetes can help with early diagnosis and treatment. If you have any of the following signs and symptoms, see your doctor right away.
- Excessive thirst and frequent urination are classic signs and symptoms of diabetes. When sick, excess sugar (glucose) builds up 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 liquid from the tissues. This causes more frequent urination, which can lead to dehydration. You'll want to drink more water to quench your thirst, which in turn 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 considered a possible sign and symptom of diabetes. When you lose sugar through frequent urination, you lose calories. At the same time, diabetics can take sugar from cell food leading to a constant feeling of hunger. The overall effect is potentially rapid weight loss, especially if you have type 1 diabetes.
- Diabetes symptoms can sometimes include vision problems. High blood sugar draws fluid from tissues, including the eyes. This affects your ability to concentrate. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to eye damage. For most people, these initial changes do not cause vision problems. However, if these changes do not continue for a long time, it can lead to vision loss and blindness.
- Slow-healing wounds or frequent infections. Doctors and patients find that infections are more common if you have diabetes. However, scientists are still unable to explain the reason for this. It is possible that high blood sugar impairs the natural wound healing process and the ability to fight infection. In women, bladder and vaginal infections are especially common.
- Tingling in hands and feet. Excess blood sugar can damage nerves. You may notice tingling and numbness in your arms and legs, as well as a burning sensation in your arms, legs, and feet.
- Red, swollen, sensitive gums. Diabetes can impair your ability to fight germs, increase your risk of gum infection, and the bone that holds your teeth in place. Teeth become loose and can become inflamed, especially if you had a gum infection before diabetes developed.
Type 1 diabetes usually develops quickly, and so its symptoms are more obvious. The latter usually does not cause any unusual problems as it develops gradually and in a very sophisticated way over many years. It is only diagnosed after complications of diabetes are discovered. If you notice any 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?
- Genetic. The tendency of diabetes is to be passed directly to the progeny, and the manifestation of the disease can also depend on other factors in life, and this is why diabetes does not appear in every lifetime. child. There are many examples of this behavior of diabetes in everyday life. It is known that children of parents should not have diabetes. In addition, diabetics themselves are not always closely associated with the occurrence of the disease, or the medical history of deceased predecessors is not known.
- Other diseases and conditions. Unlike hereditary diabetes, there are diseases and conditions where 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? The occurrence of the disease can occur with chronic alcoholism, chronic diseases of the pancreas, various endocrine disorders (adrenal, pituitary, thyroid), obesity and other conditions. . The occurrence of diabetes in these conditions and diseases is associated with impaired breakdown of glucose in the blood under the influence of the same cause that led to the development of this disease or condition.
- Additional risk factors. In addition to the genetics of the disease, there are other causes of diabetes, such as a diet high in sweets, high fat intake and obesity, reduced physical activity, transitional periods in men andwomen (menopause), a tendency to frequent infections, colds and infections. It is well known that the risk factors for the development of diabetes in modern lifestyles include changes in environment, lifestyle and nutrition (rural-urban), the performance of professional jobs, etc. requires a large mental load (stressful situation), the birth of a large child (more than 4 kg) and others.
- Effects of certain drugs. The first group of drugs that can affect the appearance of diabetes include drugs for rheumatism, chronic respiratory diseases, certain drugs for kidney, skin, and various allergic diseases. Another group of drugs are products with better blood pressure and diuretic effects. In addition, oral contraceptives, or oral contraceptives, have an effect on blood glucose 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 intake allows to timely eliminate behavioral disturbances of blood sugar.
Diagnosing diabetes
The diagnosis of diabetes is made in the laboratory. The doctor confirms (or refutes) the diagnosis based on the following data:
- If in both cases the fasting blood glucose level is above 7 mmol/l
- If blood glucose at any time of day is greater 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 the beverage, a sugary liquid consisting of 75 grams of glucose is dissolved in water. Measuring blood sugar confirms the diagnosis of diabetes.
Blood glucose levels may be higher than normal (6 to 7 mmol/L glucose, or 7. 8 to 11. 1 mmol/L 2 hours after the glucose tolerance test) and even lower than what the person is receiving. diagnosed with diabetes. A diagnosis of impaired glucose tolerance or prediabetes can be made.
How to treat diabetes?
Diabetes can be treated in a number of ways:
- insulin and diet;
- pills and diet;
- a diet;
- Combination insulin + pill therapy (which is very common for type 2 and obesity), insulin and metformin are used.
There are 5 basic principles in diabetes management. The choice of treatment method depends on many factors.
The choice of treatment depends on:
- age (children and young adults are always given insulin and a diet)
- disease complexity (decreased insulin production or complete failure to synthesize in the pancreas)
- physical condition (fat, thin, or normal weight)
Prevention of diabetes
Prevention of type 2 diabetes involves an individual approach - counseling about taking simple measures that will lead to lifestyle changes. You need to change your diet, stay physically active, control your body weight, stop smoking, and use medications only as prescribed by your doctor.
Dietary changes include eating foods according to energy needs, optimal food composition, understanding what can be eaten without restrictions, foods high in simple sugars, cooked foods, effectsimpact 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 every day.
- Use the stairs instead of the elevator.
- Walk or bike to work.
- When using transportation, get off early and walk the rest of the way.
- Walking distance to shops and other establishments.
- Supervise children in their physical activity.
- Clear the snow and organize the gardening.