Diabetes mellitus is a group of endocrine diseases that develop as a result of chronic and chronic glucose absorption disorders. According to WHO estimates, about half a billion people worldwide suffer from this pathology. Correct and timely treatment of diabetes mellitus is very important for patients. It does not lead to complete relief from the disease, but it allows a person to avoid severe complications and reduce symptoms, thereby ensuring a normal quality of life.
Cause
In short, the cause of diabetes can be described as a decrease in the sensitivity of cells to the hormone insulin, or a violation of its secretion.
The pancreas synthesizes insulin, which maintains the desired level of sugar in the blood and ensures the supply of glucose to the cells of almost all body tissues.
In diabetes, metabolic processes are disrupted. Either the cells in the pancreas no longer produce enough insulin (type 1) or the body cannot use it properly (type 2). As a result, glucose, instead of entering the cells, accumulates in the blood and urine. Patients experience, respectively, hyperglycemia and glycosuria.
Diabetes mellitus is one of the multifactorial diseases. It can be triggered by:
- viral diseases;
- poor nutrition;
- physical inactivity;
- overweight, especially in the obesity stage;
- age-related changes;
- drink alcohol, overeat;
- uncontrolled use of drugs;
- hypertension;
- other endocrine pathologies;
- pancreatic injury;
- stress effect.
The possibility of developing the disease in the presence of one or more provoking factors depends on hereditary predisposition.
Symptoms of diabetes
Specific symptoms of this disease include:
- frequent urination (polyuria). In diabetes mellitus, urine is released in large quantities, but without pain and mainly during the day;
- permanent thirst caused by dehydration;
- increased appetite, which at the beginning of the disease can manifest itself in attacks. Patients are usually attracted to sweet foods consisting of simple carbohydrates;
- weight change. Due to excessive appetite, patients often lose weight due to increased protein and fat catabolism.
Diabetes mellitus is accompanied by other symptoms:
- decreased visual acuity;
- numbness of hands and feet;
- drowsiness (especially during the day), weakness, severe fatigue and increased sweating even with little effort;
- skin problems (itching, non-healing wounds, the appearance of dark lumps in certain areas of the body);
- dry mouth, gum inflammation, tooth decay.
In the first type, insulin deficiency develops quickly, and the listed symptoms increase quickly and are difficult to ignore. In patients with type 2, the disease may be asymptomatic for a long time, and even the signs that appear indicate that it may not be very noticeable. Therefore, the second variant of the disease is often detected several years after its onset.
The patient may not show all the signs, but only 2-3 of them. In addition, the symptoms of hyperglycemia may disturb him only at a certain stage of the disease, and then the body seems to adapt to the increase in sugar, and this sensation disappears. Therefore, at the early signs of diabetes, it is important to carry out a special diagnosis.
Type of diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is not a single disease, but a group of pathological conditions. The international classification contains several types, but most patients are diagnosed with type 1 or 2 disease. Gestational diabetes is also common during pregnancy and can threaten the health of women and children.
Type 1 diabetes mellitus
Type 1 diabetes begins when the pancreas stops producing insulin due to the destruction of beta cells. Because of this, an absolute lack of this hormone occurs in the body, carbohydrate metabolism is disturbed, and then other metabolic processes suffer. The disease usually begins before the age of 30, often in childhood or adolescence.
This type of disease is determined genetically, and the development of pathology occurs under the influence of external factors acting on the immune system.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed more often than type 1. The mechanism of occurrence is different: the pancreas still produces insulin, but glucose does not enter the cells due to impaired sensitivity to the hormone. Its amount in the blood always remains at a high level. This condition is called insulin resistance.
The disease usually develops in adults, usually after 40-45 years. The presence of excess weight is very important for the occurrence of the disease: according to statistics, it is typical for more than 80% of patients with this diagnosis. With the presence of this factor, hereditary tendencies are more likely to be realized, because due to excess fat mass defects in the insulin receptor occur.
In people who are not overweight, insulin resistance is caused by other causes, including endocrine and some other diseases.
Diabetes during pregnancy
This pathology occurs in pregnant women due to decreased glucose tolerance. This is an intermediate state between normal and diabetes, which usually disappears after childbirth. It should be distinguished from the primary manifestations of type 1 or 2 encountered during pregnancy.
Women are at risk:
- overweight;
- over 30 years;
- have a history of severe toxicosis and gestosis, chronic miscarriage, stillbirth, chronic malformations in children during previous pregnancies;
- have cardiovascular and endocrine diseases.
Diabetes in pregnant women can start without these factors.
This pathology poses a threat to women and children, even leading to life-threatening conditions. Risks and possible complications can be avoided by keeping your sugar levels under control.
Risk factors
Many studies directly link the possibility of developing this disease to genetic predisposition. If one of the parents has type 1 diabetes, the chance of inheriting the disease is 5%, if both parents are sick, it increases to 20%. For a person whose parents have type 2 disease, the probability of getting the disease is about 80%, and in the presence of obesity it approaches 100%.
But even if you have a direct relative with diabetes, you can prevent the implementation of hereditary tendencies if you take into account the risk factors and take preventive measures.
Visceral obesity is one of the main factors that trigger the development of diabetes mellitus. Excess body weight is caused by an incorrect diet with a high intake of simple carbohydrates, lack of physical activity, taking certain medications, and hormonal disorders (for example, excess androgens). According to international standards, visceral obesity is diagnosed when the waist circumference is more than 80 cm in women and more than 94 cm in men.
Other lifestyle factors include smoking, alcohol abuse and prolonged exposure to stress.
Other diseases
At risk are women with polycystic ovary syndrome, as well as people of both sexes with cardiovascular and endocrine diseases.
Age
All other things being equal, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases in people over the age of 45.
Diagnostic method
The most reliable way to diagnose diabetes is a laboratory test. The first thing that allows you to suspect the presence of a disease is that your blood sugar is higher than usual (on an empty stomach it is more than 6. 1-7. 0 mmol/l, and 2 hours after eating it is more than 11. 1 mmol /l). If the result is in doubt, an additional glucose tolerance test is performed; it helps to identify prediabetes.
During the examination, glycated hemoglobin, insulin resistance index, the presence of glucose in the urine are also checked, and tests for insulin and C-peptide are performed, which allows one to evaluate β-cell activity and the amount of insulin. production.
To diagnose type 1 diabetes, especially in atypical cases, a blood test for antibodies to β cells is prescribed.
Patients can also be sent to specialists (cardiologists, ophthalmologists) for consultation to avoid complications.
It is better to undergo a full examination at a medical institution, where you can quickly get tests and get medical advice. Modern medical centers have created conditions for quick and high-quality patient examination. The technical equipment of the medical center allows you to carry out the necessary research, and the clinic uses experienced doctors who will prescribe treatment and clarify any questions that may arise.
Diabetes treatment
No method has been found to completely eliminate this disease. Treatment aims to stabilize the patient's condition, relieve symptoms and prevent complications. If all recommendations are followed, diabetic patients can minimize the impact of the disease on everyday life.
Drug treatment may include insulin therapy or oral medications that lower blood sugar. Insulin is necessary for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, because it solves the problem of balancing carbohydrate metabolism and prevents the development of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. In the second type, it is prescribed if other measures are ineffective, as well as according to indications (for example, during pregnancy, significant weight loss, certain complications).
Antihyperglycemic drugs are prescribed to patients with the second type. This group includes products with different principles of action:
- increase insulin secretion;
- increase insulin sensitivity;
- reduce the absorption of carbohydrates and others;
They work differently, but ultimately help restore normal blood glucose levels.
Determining a treatment program, choosing a drug or a combination of both lies within the competence of the attending physician. You can get an appointment with an endocrinologist at the clinic with a referral from a local therapist or without a referral for a fee. You can make an appointment for a consultation online or by phone.
Other treatment methods are also used in combination with drugs:
- diet (diet for diabetes mellitus necessarily involves limiting carbohydrates),
- physical activity that can be carried out,
- compensation for lack of vitamins and microelements,
- regular monitoring of sugar levels.
If complications or concomitant diseases occur, appropriate treatment is also prescribed. Surgical (bariatric) methods are also used in the treatment of diabetes when other measures are not effective enough.
Possible complications
Impaired carbohydrate metabolism in diabetes mellitus affects the functioning of the entire body, but the disease has the most damaging effects on the blood vessels.
Common complications of diabetes are:
- retinal detachment;
- kidney failure;
- neuropathy;
- atherosclerosis, which leads to many serious problems, including angina, heart attack and stroke.
This disease has a negative effect on the immune system, causing skin and joint pathology.
The most serious complication is diabetic coma. This condition can be caused by sugar levels that are too high or too low. In such cases, the patient needs immediate medical attention in intensive care.
Prevention of pathology
Measures to prevent diabetes mellitus partially coincide with general recommendations to maintain health and prevent disease. People with a genetic predisposition should watch it carefully:
- lead an active lifestyle and control weight;
- eat properly, reduce the consumption of fast carbohydrates (baked goods, sweets, etc. );
- giving up bad habits (smoking, regular alcohol consumption);
- avoid unnecessary stress;
- After age 40, check your blood sugar levels every year.
In order not to miss the development of diabetes, to identify it at an early stage and to help your body, it is important to monitor the warning signs and not hesitate to consult a doctor.