Diabetes mellitus is a group of endocrine diseases that develop due to interruption of glucose absorption processes and are chronic. 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 serious complications and relieve symptoms, thus ensuring a normal quality of life.
Causes
Simply put, the causes 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 blood sugar and ensures the supply of glucose to the cells of almost all tissues of the body.
In diabetes, metabolic processes are interrupted. 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. The patient experiences, respectively, hyperglycemia and glycosuria.
Diabetes mellitus is one of the multifactorial diseases. Its appearance can be caused by:
- viral diseases;
- poor nutrition;
- physical inactivity;
- excess weight, especially in the stage of obesity;
- age-related changes;
- drinking alcohol, overeating;
- uncontrolled use of drugs;
- hypertension;
- other endocrine pathologies;
- pancreatic injuries;
- the impact of stress.
The possibility of developing the disease in the presence of one or more provoking factors depends on the hereditary predisposition.
Symptoms of diabetes
Specific symptoms of the disease include:
- frequent urination (poluria). In diabetes mellitus, urine is released in large volumes, but painlessly and mainly during the day;
- constant thirst caused by dehydration;
- increased appetite, which at the beginning of the disease may appear in attacks. Patients are usually attracted to sweet foods that consist of simple carbohydrates;
- weight change. Due to excessive appetite, patients often lose weight as a result of increased protein and fat catabolism.
Diabetes mellitus is accompanied by other symptoms:
- decrease in visual acuity;
- numbness of hands and feet;
- drowsiness (especially during the day), weakness, severe fatigue and increased sweating even with slight exertion;
- skin problems (itching, non-healing wounds, the appearance of dark bumps in certain areas of the body);
- dry mouth, inflammation of the gums, deterioration of the teeth.
In the first type, insulin deficiency develops quickly and the listed symptoms increase rapidly and are difficult to ignore. In patients with type 2, the disease can be asymptomatic for a long time, and even the signs that show it may not be so pronounced. 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 can bother him only at a certain stage of the disease, and then the body seems to adapt to the added sugar and these sensations disappear. Therefore, at the first signs of diabetes, it is important to carry out a special diagnosis.
Types 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 diseases of type 1 or 2. Gestational diabetes is also common, which appears during pregnancy and can threaten the health of the woman and the child.
Type 1 diabetes mellitus
Type 1 diabetes begins when the pancreas stops producing insulin due to the destruction of beta cells. Due to this, there is an absolute lack of this hormone in the body, the metabolism of carbohydrates is disrupted, 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 the pathology occurs under the influence of external factors acting on the immune system.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed much more often than type 1. The mechanism of its occurrence is different: the pancreas still generates 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 40-45 years. The presence of excess weight is of great importance for the appearance of the disease: according to statistics, it is typical for more than 80% of patients with this diagnosis. In the presence of this factor, a hereditary predisposition is more likely to occur, as a defect in insulin receptors appears due to excess fat mass.
In people who are not overweight, insulin resistance is caused by other reasons, including endocrine diseases 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 goes away after birth. It must be distinguished from the primary manifestation of type 1 or 2 detected during pregnancy.
Women at risk:
- overweight;
- over 30 years old;
- having a history of severe toxicosis and gestosis, chronic abortion, stillbirth, chronic malformations in children during previous pregnancies;
- suffering from cardiovascular and endocrine diseases.
Diabetes in pregnant women can start without these factors.
This pathology poses a threat to women and children, and even leads to life-threatening conditions. Potential risks and complications can be prevented by keeping sugar levels under control.
Risk factors
Numerous studies directly link the possibility of developing the disease with 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 direct relatives with diabetes, you can prevent the implementation of a hereditary predisposition if you consider the risk factors and take preventive measures.
Visceral obesity is one of the main factors that provokes the development of diabetes mellitus. Excess weight is caused by a poor diet with a high consumption 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 45.
Diagnostic methods
The most reliable way to diagnose diabetes is laboratory testing. The first thing that allows you to suspect the presence of a disease is that the blood sugar is higher than normal (on an empty stomach it is more than 6. 1-7. 0 mmol/l, and 2 hours after a meal it ismore than 11. 1 mmol/l). If the results are in doubt, an additional glucose tolerance test is performed, it helps to identify prediabetes.
During the examination, glycated hemoglobin, the insulin resistance index, the presence of glucose in the urine are also checked, and tests are made for insulin and C-peptide, which allow assessing the activity of β-cells and the volume of insulin. production.
To diagnose type 1 diabetes, especially in atypical cases, a blood test for antibodies to β cells is prescribed.
The patient can also be sent to specialists (cardiologist, ophthalmologist) for consultation to prevent complications.
It is better to undergo a complete examination in a medical institution, where you can be tested quickly and receive medical advice. The modern medical center has created conditions for quick and quality examination of patients. The technical equipment of the medical center allows you to carry out the necessary research, and the clinic employs experienced doctors who will prescribe the treatment and clarify any questions that may arise.
Treatment of diabetes
Methods have not yet been found to completely get rid of this disease. The treatment aims to stabilize the patient's condition, relieve symptoms and prevent complications. If all recommendations are followed, patients with diabetes can minimize the impact of the disease on daily life.
Drug treatment may include insulin therapy or oral blood sugar-lowering medications. Insulin is necessary for patients with diabetes mellitus type 1, as it solves the problem of compensating carbohydrate metabolism and prevents the development of hypo- and hyperglycemia. In the second type, it is prescribed in case of ineffectiveness of other measures, as well as according to indications (for example, during pregnancy, a significant decrease in body weight, certain complications).
Antihyperglycemic drugs are prescribed to patients with the second type. This group includes products with different principles of action:
- increased secretion of insulin;
- increased sensitivity to insulin;
- reducing the absorption of carbohydrates and others;
They work differently, but ultimately help restore normal blood glucose levels.
The determination of the treatment program, the choice of a drug or a combination of the two is 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 medications:
- diet (diet for diabetes mellitus necessarily includes restriction of carbohydrates),
- possible physical activity,
- compensating for the lack of vitamins and microelements,
- regular monitoring of sugar levels.
If complications or concomitant diseases appear, appropriate treatment is also prescribed. Surgical methods (bariatrics) are also used in the treatment of diabetes when other measures are insufficient.
Possible complications
Impaired carbohydrate metabolism in diabetes mellitus affects the functioning of the entire body, but the disease has the most devastating effect on blood vessels.
Common complications of diabetes are:
- retinal detachment;
- kidney failure;
- neuropathy;
- atherosclerosis, which leads to many serious problems, including angina, heart attacks and strokes.
The disease negatively affects the immune system, causing skin and joint pathologies.
The most serious complication is diabetic coma. This condition can be caused by too high or too low sugar levels. In such cases, the patient needs urgent medical attention in intensive care.
Prevention of pathology
The measures for the prevention of diabetes mellitus partially coincide with the general recommendations for maintaining health and preventing diseases. People with a genetic predisposition should watch especially carefully:
- lead an active lifestyle and control weight;
- eat properly, reducing the consumption of fast carbohydrates (baked goods, sweets, etc. );
- give 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.