Diabetes mellitus is a group of endocrine diseases that develop due to disruption of glucose absorption processes and are chronic. According to WHO estimates, around 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 recovery from the disease, but it allows you to avoid serious complications and alleviate the symptoms, thus guaranteeing a normal quality of life.
Causes
To put it simply, the causes of diabetes can be described as a decrease in the susceptibility 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 tissues of the body.
In diabetes, metabolic processes are disrupted. The cells of 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 hyperglycemia and glycosuria, respectively.
Diabetes mellitus is one of the multifactorial diseases. Its occurrence can be triggered by:
- viral diseases;
- poor nutrition;
- physical inactivity;
- excess weight, especially in the obesity phase;
- age-related changes;
- drinking alcohol, eating too much;
- uncontrolled use of drugs;
- hypertension;
- other endocrine pathologies;
- pancreatic injury;
- impact of stress.
The probability 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 (polyuria). In diabetes mellitus, urine is excreted in large volumes, but painlessly and mainly during the day;
- permanent thirst caused by dehydration;
- increased appetite, which at the beginning of the disease can manifest itself with 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 catabolism of proteins and fats.
Diabetes mellitus is accompanied by other symptoms:
- decreased visual acuity;
- numbness in the hands and feet;
- drowsiness (especially during the day), weakness, severe fatigue and increased sweating even with minor effort;
- skin problems (itching, wounds that do not heal, appearance of dark lumps in some areas of the body);
- dry mouth, inflammation of the gums, deterioration of the teeth.
In the first type, insulin deficiency develops rapidly, and the listed symptoms increase rapidly and are difficult to ignore. In patients with type 2, the disease may remain asymptomatic for a long time, and even the signs that appear indicating it may not be as 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. Moreover, the symptoms of hyperglycemia can disturb it only at a certain stage of the disease, after which the body seems to adapt to the increase in sugar and these sensations disappear. Therefore, at the first signs of diabetes, it is important to conduct 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 type 1 or 2 disease. Gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy and can put the health of the woman and baby at risk, is also common.
Type 1 diabetes mellitus
Type 1 diabetes begins when the pancreas stops producing insulin due to the destruction of beta cells. For this reason, an absolute deficiency of this hormone occurs in the body, carbohydrate metabolism is disrupted, and therefore other metabolic processes suffer. The disease usually begins before age 30, often during childhood or adolescence.
This type of disease is genetically determined 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 by which it occurs is different: the pancreas still produces insulin, but glucose does not enter the cells due to reduced sensitivity to the hormone. Its amount in the blood constantly remains at a high level. This condition is called insulin resistance.
The disease usually develops in adults, often after 40-45 years. Of great importance for the onset of the disease is the presence of excess weight: 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, since due to excess fat mass a defect in insulin receptors occurs.
In people who are not overweight, insulin resistance is caused by other reasons, including endocrine disorders and other diseases.
Gestational diabetes
This pathology occurs in pregnant women due to impaired glucose tolerance. It is an intermediate state between normality and diabetes, which usually disappears after giving birth. It should be distinguished from the primary type 1 or 2 manifestation discovered during pregnancy.
Women at risk:
- overweight;
- more than 30 years;
- have a history of severe toxicosis and pregnancies, chronic miscarriage, stillbirth, chronic malformations in children during previous pregnancies;
- suffering from cardiovascular and endocrine diseases.
Diabetes in pregnant women can begin without these factors.
This pathology poses a threat to women and children, even leading to life-threatening conditions. Risks and possible complications can be prevented by keeping sugar levels under control.
Risk factors
Numerous studies directly link the probability of developing the 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 ill it rises to 20%; For a person whose parents have type 2 disease, the probability of contracting the disease is about 80%, and in the presence of obesity it approaches 100%.
But even if you have direct relatives suffering from diabetes, you can prevent the implementation of a hereditary predisposition if you take into account risk factors and take preventive measures.
Visceral obesity is one of the key factors provoking the development of diabetes mellitus. Excess weight is caused by a poor diet with 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 greater than 80 cm in women and greater 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 methods
The most reliable way to diagnose diabetes is laboratory tests. The first thing that makes you suspect the presence of a disease is that blood sugar levels are higher than normal (on an empty stomach it is more than 6. 1-7. 0 mmol/l and 2 hours after the meal it is more than 11. 1 mmol /the). If the results are questionable, an additional glucose tolerance test is performed which helps identify prediabetes.
During the exam, glycated hemoglobin, the insulin resistance index, the presence of glucose in the urine are also checked and tests for insulin and C-peptide are performed, which allow the activity of the cells to be assessed β and the volume of insulin production.
To diagnose type 1 diabetes, especially in atypical cases, a blood test for antibodies against β cells is prescribed.
The patient may also be referred to specialists (cardiologist, ophthalmologist) for consultation to prevent complications.
It is best to undergo a comprehensive examination in a medical institution, where you can quickly undergo testing and get medical advice. The modern medical center has created conditions for rapid and high-quality examination of patients. The technical equipment of the medical center allows you to conduct the necessary research, and the clinic employs experienced doctors who will prescribe treatment and clarify any questions that may arise.
Diabetes treatment
No methods have yet been found to completely eliminate this disease. 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 daily life.
Drug treatment may include insulin therapy or oral medications that lower blood sugar. Insulin is necessary for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, as it solves the problem of compensation of 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, significant reduction in body weight, some complications).
Patients with the second type are prescribed antihyperglycemic drugs. This group includes products with different principles of action:
- improve insulin secretion;
- increased insulin sensitivity;
- reduce the absorption of carbohydrates and others;
They work differently, but ultimately help restore normal blood glucose levels.
Determining the treatment program, choosing a drug or a combination of both falls within the competence of the attending physician. You can get an appointment with an endocrinologist at the clinic with the referral of a local therapist or without paid impedance. You can make an appointment for a consultation online or by telephone.
Other treatment methods are also used in combination with medications:
- diet (the diet for diabetes mellitus necessarily involves limiting carbohydrates),
- feasible physical activity,
- compensation for vitamin and microelement deficiencies,
- regular monitoring of sugar levels.
If complications or concomitant diseases occur, appropriate treatment is additionally 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 destructive effect on blood vessels.
Common complications of diabetes are:
- retinal detachment;
- renal 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 sugar levels that are too high or too low. In these cases, the patient requires urgent medical care in intensive care.
Prevention of the pathology
Measures to prevent diabetes mellitus partly coincide with general recommendations for maintaining health and preventing disease. People with a genetic predisposition should observe them especially carefully:
- lead an active lifestyle and control weight;
- eat well, reducing the consumption of fast carbohydrates (baked products, sweets, etc. );
- abandon bad habits (smoking, regular alcohol consumption);
- avoid unnecessary stress;
- After age 40, check your blood sugar levels annually.
In order not to miss the development of diabetes, identify it at an early stage and help your body, it is important to monitor the warning signs and not hesitate to consult a doctor.