Diabetes mellitus is a group of endocrine diseases that develop due to disruption 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 one to avoid severe complications and alleviate symptoms, thereby ensuring 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. 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 occurrence can be triggered by:
- viral diseases;
- poor nutrition;
- physical inactivity;
- excess weight, especially in the obesity stage;
- age-related changes;
- drinking alcohol, overeating;
- uncontrolled use of medications;
- hypertension;
- other endocrine pathologies;
- pancreas injuries;
- impact 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 released in large volumes, but painlessly and mainly during the daytime;
- permanent thirst caused by dehydration;
- increased appetite, which at the beginning of the disease can manifest itself in attacks. Patients are usually drawn to sweet foods consisting of simple carbohydrates;
- weight change. Due to excessive appetite, patients often lose weight as a result of increased catabolism of proteins and fats.
Diabetes mellitus is accompanied by other symptoms:
- decreased visual acuity;
- numbness of the hands and feet;
- drowsiness (especially during the day), weakness, severe fatigue and increased sweating even with minor exertion;
- skin problems (itching, non-healing wounds, the appearance of dark lumps 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 may be asymptomatic for a long time, and even the signs that appear indicating 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 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. 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 is also common, which occurs during pregnancy and can threaten the health of the woman and child.
Diabetes mellitus type 1
Type 1 diabetes begins when the pancreas stops producing insulin due to the destruction of beta cells. Because of this, an absolute deficiency of this hormone occurs in the body, carbohydrate metabolism is disrupted, and then other metabolic processes suffer. The disease usually begins before age 30, often in childhood or adolescence.
This type of disease is genetically determined, and the development of pathology occurs under the influence of external factors acting on the immune system.
Diabetes mellitus type 2
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 constantly remains 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 occurrence 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 be realized, 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 and some other diseases.
Gestational diabetes
This pathology occurs in pregnant women due to decreased glucose tolerance. This is an intermediate state between normal and diabetes, which usually goes away after delivery. It should be distinguished from the primary manifestation of type 1 or 2 discovered during pregnancy.
Women at risk:
- overweight;
- over 30 years old;
- having a history of severe toxicosis and gestosis, chronic miscarriage, 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, even leading to life-threatening conditions. Risks and possible complications can be prevented by keeping your sugar levels under control.
Risk factors
Numerous studies directly link the likelihood 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 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 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 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 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 years of age.
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 your 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 is more 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 for insulin and C-peptide are performed, which allow one to assess 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 may also be sent to specialists (cardiologist, ophthalmologist) for consultation in order to prevent complications.
It is better to undergo a full examination in one medical institution, 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 conduct the necessary research, and the clinic employs experienced doctors who will prescribe treatment and clarify any questions that may arise.
Treatment of diabetes
No methods have yet been found to completely get rid of 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 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, significant reduction in body weight, certain complications).
Antihyperglycemic drugs are prescribed to patients with the second type. This group includes products with different principles of action:
- enhancing insulin secretion;
- increasing insulin sensitivity;
- reducing 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 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 medications:
- diet (diet for diabetes mellitus necessarily involves limiting carbohydrates),
- feasible physical activity,
- compensation for deficiencies of vitamins and microelements,
- regular monitoring of sugar levels.
If complications or concomitant diseases occur, appropriate treatment is additionally prescribed. Surgical methods (bariatrics) are also used in the treatment of diabetes when other measures are insufficiently effective.
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 diabetic complications 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 pathologies of the skin and joints.
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 needs urgent medical care in intensive care.
Prevention of 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 right, reducing the consumption of fast carbohydrates (baked goods, sweets, etc. );
- give up bad habits (smoking, regular alcohol consumption);
- avoid unnecessary stress;
- After 40 years of age, check your blood sugar levels annually.
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 warning signs and not hesitate to consult a doctor.