Diabetes mellitus is a group of endocrine diseases that develop due to a disruption of glucose absorption processes and are chronic. According to WHO estimates, around 500 million people around the world suffer from this pathology. Correct and timely treatment of diabetes mellitus is very important for patients. It does not produce complete relief of the disease, but it allows you to avoid serious complications and alleviate symptoms, thus guaranteeing a normal quality of life.
Causes
Simply put, 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 altered. 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 obesity stage;
- age-related changes;
- drinking alcohol, overeating;
- uncontrolled use of medications;
- hypertension;
- other endocrine pathologies;
- pancreas injuries;
- impact of stress.
The probability of developing the disease in the presence of one or more provoking factors depends on the hereditary predisposition.
Diabetes symptoms
Specific symptoms of the disease include:
- frequent urination (polyuria). In diabetes mellitus, urine is released 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 in attacks. Patients are often 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:
- decreased visual acuity;
- numbness of hands and feet;
- drowsiness (especially during the day), weakness, severe fatigue and increased sweating even with minor exertion;
- skin problems (itching, wounds that do not heal, dark bumps appearing in certain areas of the body);
- dry mouth, gum inflammation, tooth decay.
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 be asymptomatic for a long time, and even the signs that appear indicating this may not be so pronounced. Therefore, the second variant of the disease is usually detected several years after its appearance.
The patient may not show all the signs, but only 2-3 of them. In addition, the symptoms of hyperglycemia may bother you only at a certain stage of the disease, and then 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 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 type 1 or 2 disease. Also common is gestational diabetes, 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 disturbed, and then other metabolic processes are affected. 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 that act 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 is constantly maintained 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 onset 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, since due to excess fat mass a defect in the insulin receptors occurs.
In people who are not overweight, insulin resistance is caused by other reasons, including endocrine diseases and some others.
gestational diabetes
This pathology occurs in pregnant women due to a decrease in glucose tolerance. This is an intermediate state between normality and diabetes, which usually disappears after childbirth. It must be distinguished from the primary manifestation of type 1 or 2 discovered during pregnancy.
Women at risk:
- overweight;
- over 30 years old;
- have a history of severe toxicosis and Gestosis, chronic spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, chronic malformations in children during previous pregnancies;
- who suffer from cardiovascular and endocrine diseases.
Diabetes in pregnant women can begin without these factors.
This pathology represents a threat to women and children, even causing life-threatening diseases. Risks and possible complications can be prevented by keeping sugar levels under control.
Risk factors
Numerous studies directly relate the probability of developing the disease to genetic predisposition. If one of the parents has type 1 diabetes, the probability of inheriting the disease is 5%; if both parents are sick, it increases to 20%. For a person whose parents suffer from type 2 disease, the probability of contracting the disease is approximately 80%, and in the presence of obesity, it approaches 100%.
But even if you have immediate family members with diabetes, you can prevent the onset of a hereditary predisposition by taking risk factors into account and taking preventive measures.
Visceral obesity is one of the key factors that cause 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
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome are at risk, as are people of both sexes with cardiovascular and endocrine diseases.
Age
All 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 tests. The first thing that allows us to suspect the presence of a disease is that the blood sugar level 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 higher. of 11. 1 mmol). /l). If the results are doubtful, an additional glucose tolerance test is performed; This helps identify prediabetes.
During the examination, glycated hemoglobin, the insulin resistance index, the presence of glucose in the urine are also monitored, and insulin and C-peptide tests are performed, which allow the activity of β cells and the volume of insulin to be evaluated. 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 referred to specialists (cardiologist, ophthalmologist) for consultation in order to prevent complications.
It is better to undergo a full examination in a medical institution, where you can quickly get tested and receive medical advice. The modern medical center has created conditions for rapid and high-quality examination of patients. The technical team of the medical center allows you to carry out the necessary research and the clinic has 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. By following all recommendations, 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, a significant reduction in body weight, certain 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 medication or a combination of both is the responsibility of the treating physician. You can make an appointment with an endocrinologist in 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 arise, appropriate treatment is also prescribed. Surgical (bariatric) methods are also used in the treatment of diabetes when other measures are not effective enough.
Possible complications
Disturbance of 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;
- kidney failure;
- neuropathy;
- atherosclerosis, which causes many serious problems, such as 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 such cases, the patient needs urgent medical attention in intensive care.
Prevention of pathology
Measures to prevent diabetes mellitus partly coincide with general recommendations for maintaining health and preventing diseases. People with a genetic predisposition should observe them with special attention:
- lead an active lifestyle and control weight;
- eat well, reducing the consumption of fast carbohydrates (pastry, sweets, etc. );
- abandon bad habits (smoking, regular alcohol consumption);
- avoid unnecessary stress;
- Starting at 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 be attentive to warning signs and not hesitate to consult a doctor.