Diabetes mellitus (lat. Diabetes mellitus) is a chronic, incurable systemic metabolic disease characterized by persistently high blood sugar levels. This is mainly due to genetic factors and due to decreased secretion or biological effects of the hormone insulin or both. This deficiency interferes with the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins in the body (presenting a typical problem) and affects the structure and function of vital organs and organ systems such as blood vessels, nerves, etc. over time.
Diabetes is one of the most common endocrine diseases and its prevalence is increasing (especially in developed countries). This is the result of modern lifestyles and an increase in external etiologies, of which obesity is particularly prominent.
Diabetes is most common in older adults due to extensive degenerative and sclerotic changes in the body (affecting the pancreas), while in young adult men and women, diabetes may be associated with genetic disease or damage to the pancreas caused by certain infectionsdisease.
type of diabetes
There are several forms (types) of diabetes today due to different clinical manifestations:
- Diabetes in children (0 to 14 years old)
- Juvenile diabetes (15 to 24 years old)
- Adult diabetes (25 to 64 years old)
- "Older" diabetes (65 until end of life)
Expert doctors classify diabetes in their own way:
- Endocrine diabetes, combined with endocrine gland (endocrine gland) disease.
- Pancreatic diabetes associated with pancreatic disease (diabetes).
- Iatrogenic diabetes, which occurs in children after the use of certain types of drugs.
- Patients with hepatic (blood-borne) diabetes, liver failure and other diseases.
Type 1 diabetes (insulin dependent)
Type 1 diabetes is the most severe form of diabetes because cells in the pancreas (beta cells) produce little or no insulin. It can occur at any age, but is most common in children and young adults. Use insulin from day one. Strict self-control, diet and physical activity are mandatory parts of treatment. You can read more about insulin therapy in our article on insulin.
type 2 diabetes
Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes in our country and around the world. In the second type, the pancreas produces insulin, but not enough, or the body becomes resistant (immune) to the hormone insulin. It occurs in all age groups, but mainly in adults (over 40), obesity and the elderly. The fast-paced modern lifestyle of daily life is very conducive to the development of this type of diabetes. Treatment is diet or a combination of diet and oral hypoglycemic agents. Herbal teas are used as an aid in all situations of moderate physical activity. If this therapy does not show positive results, they switch to insulin therapy and possibly oral hypoglycemic agents.
Gestational diabetes (during pregnancy)
This underlying diabetes is associated with pregnancy, during which a woman's hormonal balance changes, which can lead to disturbances in insulin secretion, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels. The risk group includes women over the age of 25 who were overweight before pregnancy, especially those with a genetic predisposition. Blood sugar levels usually stabilize after the baby is born. However, in women, gestational diabetes may become a later cause of type 2 diabetes.
symptoms of diabetes
Symptoms of diabetes are often invisible. The first signs of diabetes, especially type 2, may seem insignificant and harmless to you if they appear. You can have diabetes for months or even years without seeing any signs.
Understanding the possible symptoms of diabetes can lead to early diagnosis and treatment. Seek immediate medical attention if you have any of the following signs and symptoms.
- Excessive thirst and frequent urination are typical signs and symptoms of diabetes. When you are sick, excess sugar (glucose) builds up in your blood. Your kidneys have to work hard to filter and absorb excess sugar. If your kidneys fail, excess sugar is excreted in the urine as tissue fluid. This can lead to more frequent urination, which can lead to dehydration. You'll want to drink more fluids to quench your thirst, which in turn can lead to frequent urination.
- Fatigue can be caused by a variety of factors. It can also be caused by dehydration, frequent urination, and your body not functioning properly because less sugar is available 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, people with diabetes can get sugar from food for their cells to use, leading to constant starvation. 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 the ability to concentrate. If left untreated, diabetes can cause eye damage. For most people, these early changes do not cause vision problems. However, if these changes do not persist for a long time, vision loss and blindness can result.
- The wound heals slowly or becomes frequently infected. Doctors and patients have noticed that infections are more common if you have diabetes. However, scientists haven't been able to explain why. High blood sugar levels may impair the wound's ability to heal naturally and fight infection. In women, bladder and vaginal infections are especially common.
- Numbness in hands and feet. High blood sugar can damage nerves. You may notice tingling and numbness in your arms and legs, as well as painful burning sensations in your arms, legs, and feet.
- Red, swollen, sensitive gums. Diabetes impairs the ability to fight bacteria and increases the risk of infections in the gums and bones that hold the teeth in place. Teeth are loose and can become inflamed, especially if you had a gum infection before diabetes developed.
Type 1 diabetes usually develops rapidly, so its symptoms are more pronounced. The second type usually doesn't cause any unusual problems because it develops gradually and in a very subtle way over the years. Diagnosis can only be made when complications of diabetes are detected. Talk to your doctor if you notice any early signs of possible diabetes. The earlier the condition is diagnosed, the sooner treatment can begin.
4 causes of diabetes. what does it come from?
- geneticThe predisposition to diabetes is passed directly on to offspring, and the manifestations of the disease may also depend on other factors in life, which is why diabetes does not appear in every offspring. There are many examples of the behavior of diabetes in everyday life. It is well known that children of parents should not have diabetes. In addition, people with diabetes themselves are not always closely associated with the development of the disease or are unaware of the disease history of a deceased predecessor.
- Other diseases and conditions. Unlike hereditary diabetes, some diseases and conditions can also be diagnosed with diabetes. This type of diabetes is called secondary diabetes because it develops under the direct effect of the real disease or a detrimental effect on bodily functioning. What causes diabetes? It can occur in chronic alcoholism, chronic diseases of the pancreas, various endocrine diseases (adrenal, pituitary, thyroid), obesity and other diseases. The development of diabetes in these conditions and diseases is associated with impaired glucose breakdown in the blood under the influence of the same causes that lead to the development of such diseases or conditions.
- other risk factorsIn addition to genetic transmission of the disease, there are other causes of diabetes, such as a high-sugar diet, fat intake and obesity, reduced physical activity, the transition period (menopause) in men and women, a tendency to frequent infections, colds, and inflammation. It is well known that risk factors for the development of diabetes in modern lifestyles include changes in the environment, lifestyle and nutrition (rural-urban), the performance of specialized tasks requiring a lot of mental load (stressful situations), an older child (over 4 kg) and otherpeople.
- effects of certain drugs. The first group of drugs that can affect the appearance of diabetes includes drugs for rheumatism, chronic respiratory diseases, some drugs for kidney and skin diseases, and drugs for various allergic diseases. Another group of drugs are products that act on blood pressure and improve urination. In addition, oral contraceptives or birth control pills have an effect on glycemic behavior. There are other drugs and hormones that can affect the onset of diabetes. But all of these drugs are well-known drugs, and controlling their intake can eliminate the behavioral disorder of blood sugar in time.
Diagnosis of diabetes
Diabetes is diagnosed in the laboratory. A doctor confirms (or refutes) a diagnosis based on the following data:
- If there are two cases of fasting blood glucose level above 7 mmol/l
- If blood glucose is greater than 11. 1 mmol/L at any time during the day
- Your doctor may order a so-called glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The test measures fasting blood sugar and then a sugar-sweetened liquid made up of 75 grams of glucose dissolved in water after drinking the beverage. Measuring blood sugar can confirm the diagnosis of diabetes.
Blood sugar levels may be higher than normal (6 to 7 mmol/L glucose, or 7. 8 to 11. 1 mmol/L 2 hours after a glucose tolerance test) or even lower than the level at which you have been diagnosed with diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance or prediabetes can be diagnosed.
How to treat diabetes?
Diabetes can be treated in a number of ways:
- insulin and diet;
- tablet medicines and diet;
- a diet;
- Insulin combination therapy + pills (a very common approach for type 2 and obesity, taking insulin and metformin.
There are 5 basic principles of diabetes management. The choice of treatment depends on many factors.
The choice of treatment depends on:
- Age (children and young adults always receive insulin and diet)
- Complexity of the disease (reduced insulin production or complete lack of synthesis by the pancreas)
- Physical condition (fat, thin or normal weight)
prevent diabetes
Preventing type 2 diabetes involves a personal approach - consulting on implementing simple measures that will lead to lifestyle changes. You will need to change your diet, stay physically active, control your weight, stop smoking, and only use medicines as directed by your doctor.
Modifying the diet includes eating foods based on energy needs, optimizing food composition, understanding what can be eaten without restriction, foods high in simple sugars, cooking foods, and the impact of physical activity on energy expenditure.
Physical exercise should become a habit. Your daily physical activity program should include:
- Walk at least 30 minutes a day.
- Use stairs instead of elevators.
- Walk or bike to work.
- When using transportation, get off early and walk the rest of the way.
- Walk to shops and other amenities.
- Monitor your child's physical activity.
- Clear snow and organize gardening.