Diabetes mellitus is a group of endocrine diseases that arise due to disruption of glucose absorption processes and are chronic. According to WHO estimates, around half a billion people worldwide suffer from this disease. Correct and timely treatment of diabetes mellitus is very important for patients. It does not lead to complete relief of the disease, but allows serious complications to be avoided, symptoms to be relieved, and thus ensures a normal quality of life.
Causes
To put it simply, the causes of diabetes can be described as a reduced susceptibility of the cells to the hormone insulin or a disruption in its secretion.
The pancreas synthesizes insulin, which maintains the desired blood sugar level and ensures the supply of glucose to the cells of almost all tissues in the body.
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 does not enter the cells, but instead accumulates in the blood and urine. The patient suffers from hyperglycemia or glycosuria.
Diabetes mellitus is one of the multifactorial diseases. Its occurrence can be triggered by:
- viral diseases;
- poor diet;
- physical inactivity;
- Overweight, especially in the obesity stage;
- age-related changes;
- drinking alcohol, eating excessively;
- uncontrolled taking of medications;
- Hypertension;
- other endocrine pathologies;
- Injuries to the pancreas;
- Effects of stress.
The likelihood of developing the disease in the presence of one or more provoking factors depends on hereditary predisposition.
Symptoms of diabetes
Specific symptoms of the disease include:
- frequent urination (polyuria). In diabetes mellitus, urine is excreted in large quantities, but painlessly and mainly during the day;
- constant thirst due to dehydration;
- Increased appetite, which can manifest itself in attacks at the beginning of the disease. Patients are typically drawn to sweet foods composed of simple carbohydrates;
- Weight change. Due to excessive appetite, patients often lose weight as the breakdown of proteins and fats increases.
Diabetes mellitus is accompanied by other symptoms:
- reduced visual acuity;
- numbness of hands and feet;
- Drowsiness (especially during the day), weakness, severe tiredness and increased sweating even with little exertion;
- Skin problems (itching, non-healing wounds, appearance of dark nodules in certain areas of the body);
- Dry mouth, inflammation of the gums, tooth decay.
In the first type, insulin deficiency develops quickly, the listed symptoms increase rapidly and are difficult to ignore. In patients with type 2, the disease may be asymptomatic for a long period of time and even the signs that suggest it may not be as pronounced. Therefore, the second variant of the disease is often only discovered several years after its outbreak.
The patient may not show all the signs, but only 2-3 of them. In addition, the symptoms of hyperglycemia may bother him only at a certain stage of the disease, and then the body seems to adapt to the increased sugar and these sensations disappear. It is therefore important to carry out special diagnostics at the first signs of diabetes.
Types of diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is not a single disease, but a group of pathological conditions. The international classification includes several types, but most patients are diagnosed with type 1 or 2 disease. Gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy and can endanger the health of the woman and child, is also common.
Diabetes mellitus type 1
Type 1 diabetes begins when the pancreas stops producing insulin due to the destruction of beta cells. This results in an absolute deficiency of this hormone in the body, carbohydrate metabolism is disrupted and other metabolic processes suffer. The disease usually begins before the age of 30, often in childhood or adolescence.
This type of disease has a genetic basis and the development of pathology occurs under the influence of external factors that act on the immune system.
Diabetes mellitus type 2
Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed significantly more frequently than type 1 diabetes. The mechanism of its 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 remains constantly at a high level. This condition is called insulin resistance.
The disease usually develops in adults, often after the age of 40 to 45. The presence of excess weight is of great importance for the course of the disease: according to statistics, it is typical for more than 80% of patients with this diagnosis. If this factor is present, it is more likely that a hereditary predisposition will appear, since a defect in the insulin receptors occurs due to the excess fat mass.
In people who are not overweight, insulin resistance is caused by other causes, including endocrine and some other diseases.
Gestational diabetes
This pathology occurs in pregnant women due to reduced glucose tolerance. This is an intermediate state between normal and diabetes, which usually disappears after delivery. It must be distinguished from the primary manifestation of type 1 or 2 discovered during pregnancy.
Women at risk:
- obesity;
- over 30 years old;
- a history of severe toxicosis and gestosis, chronic miscarriage, stillbirth and chronic malformations in children during previous pregnancies;
- suffer from cardiovascular and endocrine diseases.
Diabetes in pregnant women can begin without these factors.
This pathology poses a threat to women and children and can even lead to life-threatening diseases. You can prevent risks and possible complications by keeping your sugar levels under control.
Risk factors
Numerous studies directly link the likelihood 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, the chance increases to 20%. For a person whose parents have type 2 disease, the chance of developing the disease is about 80% and, if obesity is present, it is almost 100%.
But even if you have direct relatives with diabetes, you can prevent the development of a hereditary predisposition if you take risk factors into account and take preventive measures.
Visceral obesity is one of the key factors in the development of diabetes mellitus. Obesity is caused by poor nutrition with high consumption of simple carbohydrates, lack of physical activity, taking certain medications and hormonal disorders (e. g. 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 and people of both sexes with cardiovascular and endocrine diseases.
Old
All other things being equal, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases in people over 45 years of age.
Diagnostic methods
The most reliable way to diagnose diabetes is through laboratory tests. The first thing that will tell you about the presence of a disease is that your blood sugar is above normal (on an empty stomach more than 6. 1-7. 0 mmol/l and 2 hours after a meal more than 11. 1 mmol). /l). If there are doubts about the results, a glucose tolerance test is also carried out, which helps to detect prediabetes.
During the examination, glycated hemoglobin, insulin resistance index and the presence of glucose in the urine are also checked, as well as tests for insulin and C-peptide are carried out, which allow assessment of the activity of β-cells 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.
To prevent complications, the patient may also be sent for consultation to a specialist (cardiologist, ophthalmologist).
It is better to undergo a full examination in a medical facility where you can quickly get tested and get medical advice. The modern medical center has created conditions for quick and high-quality examination of patients. The technical equipment of the medical center allows you to carry out the necessary examinations, and the clinic employs experienced doctors who prescribe treatments and clarify any questions.
Treatment of diabetes
Methods to completely eliminate this disease have not yet been found. Treatment is aimed at stabilizing the patient's condition, relieving symptoms and preventing complications. If all recommendations are followed, patients with diabetes can minimize the impact of the disease on their daily lives.
Drug treatment may include insulin therapy or oral medications to lower blood sugar. Insulin is necessary for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, as it solves the problem of compensation for carbohydrate metabolism and prevents the development of hypo- and hyperglycemia. In the second type, it is prescribed when other measures are ineffective, as well as depending on the indications (e. g. during pregnancy, significant weight loss, certain complications).
Patients with the second type are prescribed antihyperglycemic drugs. This group includes products with different principles of action:
- improving insulin secretion;
- increasing insulin sensitivity;
- reducing the intake of carbohydrates and others;
They work differently, but ultimately help restore normal blood sugar levels.
Determining the treatment program, choosing a medication or a combination of both is the responsibility of the treating doctor. You can make an appointment with an endocrinologist at the clinic for a fee with a referral from a local therapist or without a referral. You can arrange a consultation appointment online or by telephone.
Other treatment methods are also used in combination with medication:
- Diet (diet for diabetes mellitus necessarily includes a restriction of carbohydrates),
- feasible physical activity,
- Compensation for deficiencies in vitamins and microelements,
- regular monitoring of sugar levels.
If complications or concomitant illnesses occur, appropriate treatment is also prescribed. Surgical methods (bariatrics) are also used in the treatment of diabetes when other measures are not sufficiently effective.
Possible complications
Disturbed carbohydrate metabolism in diabetes mellitus impairs the functioning of the entire body, but the disease has the most destructive effect on the blood vessels.
Common diabetic complications include:
- retinal detachment;
- kidney failure;
- neuropathy;
- Atherosclerosis, which leads to many serious problems including angina, heart attacks and strokes.
The disease has a negative impact on the immune system and leads to skin and joint diseases.
The most serious complication is diabetic coma. This condition can be caused by either too high or too low sugar levels. In such cases, the patient requires urgent medical care in the intensive care unit.
Prevention of pathologies
Measures to prevent diabetes mellitus partially coincide with general recommendations for maintaining health and preventing diseases. People with a genetic predisposition should observe these particularly carefully:
- lead an active lifestyle and control weight;
- eat right and reduce the consumption of fast carbohydrates (baked goods, sweets, etc. );
- give up bad habits (smoking, regular alcohol consumption);
- avoid unnecessary stress;
- Start checking your blood sugar levels annually starting at age 40.
In order not to miss the development of diabetes, to detect it early and to help your body, it is important to pay attention to warning signs and not to hesitate to see a doctor.