Diabetes mellitus is a chronic endocrine disease characterized by the inability to absorb glucose coming from food and necessary for nutrition, breathing and energy metabolism of cells. In this case, the production or interaction with the hormone of the pancreas - insulin is impaired. It is needed to regulate the quantitative presence of glucose in the bloodstream. With improper operation of a pair of glucose -sensulin, hyperglycemia is a persistent increase in glucose. The metabolism suffers, the work of kidneys, heart, blood vessels and central nervous systems is disturbed.
Types of diabetes
Two main varieties of diabetes are distinguished, which, although they belong to one group of endocrine diseases, still have differences.
First type of diabetes (insulin -dependent, juvenile, INZSD I type)
It is characterized by the fact that for any reason the immune system attacks the pancreatic beta-cells (more than 80%), producing insulin. There is no hormone, but glucose is delivered to the body with food constantly. Blood sugar goes off scale. Diabetes of the first type are most often detected in childhood or adolescence. But for adults it is not uncommon.
Second type diabetes (insulin -dependent, II II II)
Type II diabetes is more often diagnosed in people after 30-40 years. But the disease is getting younger. In 90 % of cases in patients, excess weight is observed. The body can still produce insulin, but the sensitivity of the cells to insulin is reduced (this is called insulin resistance). A vicious circle arises. Cells do not feel insulin, the body produces even more insulin to feed; cage. Glucose simply accumulates in the blood, and insulin increases appetite. A person eats, jumps sugar, insulin resistance intensifies.
Prediabet
Here, the glucose level goes beyond reference values, but you can’t even talk about diabetes. Prediabet can become the basis for the development of type II diabetes, as well as diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Gestational diabetes is characteristic during pregnancy. Most often found in the II or III trimester.
Also, the course of the disease differs in severity: light (I), medium (II) and heavy (III).
Diabetes. Symptoms
If you do not have a habit of donating blood for glucose once a year, and you do not know the endocrinologist from the clinic in person, there are a number of symptoms that can tell you that it is time to contact a specialist. But we will make a reservation right away, the signs of diabetes are manifested if insulin deficiency is already moving to a critical point. Therefore, at the moment, the most effective way to find out your sugar level is to donate blood.
Diabetes of the first type
Symptoms of diabetes of the first type:
- constant, insatiable thirst;
- dry mouth;
- frequent urination;
- apathy and fatigue;
- insatiable hunger;
- weight loss (an average of 3-5 kg), not related to any actions from a person;
- Problems with vision (vagueness of the picture, as if everything is in the fog).
Diabetes of the second type
Symptoms of diabetes of the second type are similar to type I diabetes in some parameters: it is thirst, hunger, dry mouth, fatigue, vision problems and frequent urge to the toilet. But this type has its own signs:
- numbness and tingling in the arms and legs;
- Slow wound healing and recurrent infections.
The causes of diabetes
Alas, scientists cannot name the exact causes of the development of diabetes in humans (especially the first type). Poor ecology, an abundance of viral infections and inadequate operation of the immune system are taken as a basis. Among the causes of the development of diabetes mellitus are usually distinguished:
- Hereditary predisposition. Moreover, the risk reaches 10%if the father is sick with diabetes of the first type, and 2. 5%if the mother. If both parents are diagnosed with type II diabetes, then the child has the risk of this disease after 40 years increases to 65-70%;
- unbalanced diet with an abundance of carbohydrates;
- Excess weight (90% of people with type II InZSD have it);
- lack of physical activity;
- stress on an ongoing basis;
- prediabet;
- prolonged use of certain drugs (diuretic, hormonal, salicylates, cytostatics, etc. );
- ethnicity (in children of the European race, the risk of developing diabetes of the 1st type higher);
- history of gestational diabetes;
- Chronic insufficiency of the adrenal cortex.
Complications
This disease is insidious, and if you do not observe the instructions of the doctor, then complications of diabetes (chronic and acute) may appear, which jeopardize the work of the whole organism. Chronic complications are observed when a high sugar level lasts quite a long time.
The following chronic complications can be distinguished:
- The fragility of blood vessels in the retina (retinopathy) leads to a decrease in visual acuity, the early development of cataracts or causes blindness.
- With diabetes, periodontitis often occurs, leading to teeth loss or problems with the heart. Also, a variety of infectious diseases of the oral cavity are possible. It is necessary to observe hygiene well and regularly visit the dentist.
- Cardiovascular diseases are the most common causes of disability and mortality among diabetics. Angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, stroke and others. Lack of observation of cholesterol and glucose levels, increased blood pressure contribute to the development of these complications.
- Nephropathy, or the destruction of blood vessels in the kidney, leads to the failure of the functioning or refusal of the kidneys. Hell control is required.
- Neuropathy (nerves damage). Most often, the risk of neuropathy is exposed to legs. The walls of the vessels and nerve fibers are destroyed, the blood flow to the legs worsens. Signs of the development of neuropathy are tingling, pain, crawling goosebumps or loss of sensitivity. Patients, especially the elderly, usually do not attach the meaning to this, which is fraught with the development of ulcers, infectious diseases and amputation. Neuropathy can affect other body systems (erectile dysfunction, problems with the gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary system).
- Diabetes is one of the causes of atherosclerosis, since the vessels become brittle, fragile and increases the risk of a thrombus.
- There are often joint pain, since diabetes leads to a decrease in the amount of synovial fluid.
- Also, there is a high frequency of development of mental disorders.
Acute complications, developing rapidly, are usually interconnected with fluctuations in blood glucose. Low (hypoglycemia) and high (hyperglycemia) lead to crises. Crisis of hypoglycemia (3. 9 mmol/l or lower) manifest themselves as a seizure, and hyperglycemic crises are dangerous to the occurrence of diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state. These are emergency and threatening conditions, leading to convulsions, coma and fatal outcome.
Diagnosis of diabetes
Diagnosis of diabetes is an important step. In an ideal situation, a person should be aware of his glucose level, especially after 45 years. But if it is at risk, then the analysis should be carried out more often and you need to do it earlier, so as not to miss the precious time.
Diabetes are diagnosed in several ways:
- Analysis for glycated hemoglobin. The results of the analysis demonstrate the average level of glucose in the blood over the past 2-3 months. So you can trace the dynamics;
- Analysis of glucose in blood plasma (capillary or venous) on an empty stomach. The audit demonstrates the position of glucose at the moment;
- Gluczotolerant test is prescribed in doubtful cases. The test lasts quite a long time and includes a measurement of glucose levels before and after taking a glass of water with glucose dissolved in it;
- Analysis of urine for the presence of glucose and/or acetone. A healthy person is not characterized by the presence of these elements in the urine.
Treatment
When treating type I diabetes mellitus, the main treatment for insulin is the main treatment for insulin, which must be administered every day in a dose prescribed and calculated by the attending physician. You can use special insulin syringes, syringes-handrails or insulin pumps, independently calculating the necessary dose of the filed hormone. Under certain conditions, it is possible to prescribe drugs for diabetes that stimulate the body to develop their own insulin.
In diabetes of the first species, chip insulin every day, since the passes are fraught with the development of diabetic ketoacidosis, leading to death. Daily insulin + proper nutrition + physical activity can provide life without complications.
With type II diabetes, a doctor prescribes drug treatment designed to reduce sugar levels and normalize a person’s condition. Sometimes it may be necessary for substitution therapy with insulin, but it does not need to be received daily. Diet in diabetes is observed without fail, as well as an increase in physical activity, body weight control.
In the presence of pre-the-diabetes, the examination must be carried out once every six months or a year. It is also necessary to get rid of excess weight and switch to dietary nutrition.
With gestational diabetes, it is necessary to carefully monitor the level of glucose in the blood and follow the recommendations of the observant doctor. Most often after childbirth, blood sugar returns to normal. But there is a risk of developing diabetes of the second type.
Forecast and prevention
Diabetes mellitus is a serious endocrine disease that reduces life by 5-10 years, and men die more often than women. Infectious and viral diseases are more severely tolerated. Complications against the background of pneumonia, influenza occur 6 times more often, when compared with statistics by people without diabetes in a history. In healthy people, in comparison with diabetics, Alzheimer and other forms of dementia develop less often.
But with diabetes you can and should be fought. Competent management helps them to avoid many problems and complications. So, 50-60% of cases of the disease are stabilized and not progressed.
Proper control and prevention of diabetes is:
- regular glucose check;
- special diet for diabetes;
- playing sports in moderate mode;
- observation of blood pressure and cholesterol;
- regular visit to the necessary specialists and undergoing surveys;
- Taking medicines prescribed by a doctor.
Diabetes is not fully studied, but medicines and a conscious attitude to their life with this ailment will help to live for a long time and without complications.