Diabetes - causes, symptoms and treatment

Diabetes is a group of chronic endocrine diseases that occur due to disruption of the glucose absorption process. The World Health Organization estimates that about 500 million people worldwide suffer from the condition. Correct and timely treatment of diabetes is very important for patients. It does not provide complete disease relief, but it can avoid serious complications and reduce symptoms, ensuring a normal quality of life.

reason

In short, the cause of diabetes can be described as a reduced sensitivity of cells to the hormone insulin, or a disruption in its secretion.The pancreas synthesizes insulin, which maintains required sugar levels in the blood and ensures a supply of glucose to cells in almost all tissues of the body.In diabetes, metabolic processes are disrupted. Either the pancreatic cells no longer produce enough insulin (type 1), or the body cannot use insulin properly (type 2). As a result, instead of entering the cells, glucose accumulates in the blood and urine. Patients experienced hyperglycemia and glycosuria, respectively.Diabetes is one of the multifactorial diseases. Its occurrence can be triggered by:

• viral diseases;
• malnutrition;
• lack of physical activity;
• Excess weight, especially in the obesity stage;
• age-related changes;
• drinking, overeating;
• uncontrolled drug use;
• hypertension;
• Other endocrine diseases;
• Pancreatic damage;
• Effects of stress.

The likelihood of developing the disease in the presence of one or more predisposing factors depends on genetic predisposition.

symptoms of diabetes

Specific symptoms of the disease include:

• Frequent urination (polyuria). In diabetes, urine is passed out in large amounts but painlessly, mostly during the day;
• persistent thirst due to dehydration;
• Increased appetite can manifest as attacks in the early stages of the disease. Patients often prefer sweet foods consisting of simple carbohydrates;
• Weight changes. Due to excessive appetite, patients often lose weight due to increased protein and fat catabolism.

Diabetes is also associated with other symptoms:

• decreased vision;
• numbness in hands and feet;
• Drowsiness (especially during the day), weakness, severe fatigue, increased sweating even with slight exertion;
• Skin problems (itching, non-healing wounds, black bumps on certain parts of the body);
• Dry mouth, inflamed gums, and deterioration of teeth.

In the first type, insulin deficiency develops rapidly and the listed symptoms increase rapidly and become difficult to ignore. For people with type 2, the disease may be asymptomatic for a long time, and the signs may even be less obvious. As a result, the second variant of the disease is often discovered years after onset.A patient may not exhibit all symptoms but only 2-3 of them. Additionally, the symptoms of hyperglycemia may only bother him during a certain phase of the disease, and then the body seems to adapt to the increase in sugar and these feelings disappear. Therefore, it is important to have a specific diagnosis at the first signs of diabetes.

type of diabetes

Diabetes is not a single disease but a group of pathological conditions. International classifications include several types, but most patients are diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 disease. Gestational diabetes is also common, occurs during pregnancy, and can threaten the health of women and children.

type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes begins when the pancreas stops producing insulin due to the destruction of beta cells. Therefore, an absolute deficiency of this hormone in the body leads to disruption of carbohydrate metabolism, and then other metabolic processes are affected. The disease usually begins before age 30, usually during childhood or adolescence.Such diseases are genetically determined and the development of pathology occurs under the influence of external factors acting on the immune system.

type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed much more frequently than type 1 diabetes. The mechanism by which it occurs is different: the pancreas still produces insulin, but glucose cannot enter the cells because sensitivity to the hormone is impaired. Its content in the blood always remains high. This condition is called insulin resistance.The disease usually develops in adults, usually after the age of 40-45 years. Excess weight is very important for the development of the disease: according to statistics, more than 80% of patients suffer from this disease. In the presence of this factor, a genetic predisposition is more likely to be achieved, since the insulin receptors will be defective due to excess fat mass.In people who are not overweight, insulin resistance is caused by other causes, including endocrine and other diseases.

gestational diabetes

This pathology occurs in pregnant women due to impaired glucose tolerance. This is an intermediate state between normal and diabetic and usually disappears after delivery. It should be distinguished from primary manifestations of type 1 or 2 seen during pregnancy.Women at risk:

• overweight;
• Over 30 years old;
• There is a history of severe poisoning and gestational poisoning, chronic miscarriage, stillbirth, and chronic malformation in children during previous pregnancy;
• Suffering from cardiovascular and endocrine diseases.

Without these factors, pregnant women may also develop diabetes.This pathology poses a threat to women and children and can even lead to life-threatening conditions. Risks and possible complications can be prevented by controlling blood sugar levels.

risk factors

Many studies have directly linked the likelihood of developing the disease to genetic predisposition. If one parent has type 1 diabetes, the chance of inheriting the disease is 5%; if both parents have the disease, the chance of inheriting the disease increases to 20%. For people whose parents have type 2 disease, the probability of developing the disease is about 80%, and if obesity is present, it's closer to 100%. But even if you have an immediate family member with diabetes, a genetic predisposition can be prevented if risk factors are considered and preventive measures are taken.Visceral obesity is one of the key factors leading to diabetes. Excess weight is caused by a poor diet, high consumption of simple carbohydrates, lack of physical activity, taking certain medications, and hormonal imbalances such as excess androgens. According to international standards, visceral obesity can be diagnosed when a waist circumference exceeds 80 cm for women and 94 cm for men.Other lifestyle factors include smoking, alcohol abuse and chronic stress.

Other diseases

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome are at risk, as are men and women with cardiovascular and endocrine diseases.

age

All else being equal, people over 45 have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

diagnostic methods

The most reliable way to diagnose diabetes is a laboratory test. The first thing that makes you suspect that you have a disease is that your blood sugar is higher than normal (more than 6. 1-7. 0 mmol/L on an empty stomach and more than 11. 1 mmol/L 2 hours after a meal). If the results are questionable, an additional glucose tolerance test is performed, which can help identify prediabetes.During the examination, glycated hemoglobin, insulin resistance index, the presence of glucose in the urine, and insulin and C-peptide tests are also checked, allowing the activity of beta cells and the amount of insulin production to be assessed.To diagnose type 1 diabetes, especially atypical cases, a blood test for beta-cell antibodies is needed.The patient may also be sent for consultation with a specialist (cardiologist, ophthalmologist) to prevent complications.It is best to go to a medical facility for a comprehensive check-up where you can get a quick check-up and get medical advice. The modern medical center creates conditions for rapid and high-quality examination of patients. The technical equipment of the medical center allows you to carry out the necessary studies, and the clinic employs experienced doctors who will prescribe treatments and clarify any questions that may arise.

diabetes treatment

There is currently no way to completely eliminate this disease. The goals of treatment are to stabilize the patient's condition, relieve symptoms, and prevent complications. If all recommendations are followed, people with diabetes can minimize the impact of the disease on their daily lives.Medication may include insulin therapy or oral medications that lower blood sugar. Insulin is necessary for patients with type 1 diabetes because it resolves compensatory carbohydrate metabolism and prevents hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. In the second type, the drug is prescribed when other measures fail and according to indications (for example, during pregnancy, significant weight loss, certain complications). Antihyperglycemic drugs are prescribed to patients in the second category. This group includes products with different principles of action:

• Enhance insulin secretion;
• Increase insulin sensitivity;
• Reduced absorption of carbohydrates and other substances;

They work differently, but ultimately help restore normal blood sugar levels.Determining treatment options, selecting medications, or a combination of both is within the competence of the attending physician. You can make an appointment with the clinic's endocrinologist on the recommendation of a local therapist or at no charge. You can schedule a consultation online or by phone.Other treatments may also be used in combination with medications:

• diet (a diabetic diet necessarily involves carbohydrate restriction),
• feasible physical activity,
• Compensate for vitamin and trace element deficiencies,
• Monitor blood sugar levels regularly.

If complications or concomitant diseases occur, additional appropriate treatment is required. Surgical methods (weight loss treatment) are also used to treat diabetes when other measures are not effective enough.

Possible complications

Impaired carbohydrate metabolism in diabetes affects the functioning of the entire body, but the disease has the most damaging effects on blood vessels.Common complications of diabetes include:

• retinal detachment;
• kidney failure;
• Neuropathy;
• Atherosclerosis, which causes many serious problems, including angina, heart disease, and stroke.

The disease negatively affects the immune system and causes skin and joint lesions.The most serious complication is diabetic coma. This condition can be caused by sugar levels that are too high or too low. In this case, the patient requires emergency medical care in an intensive care unit.

Prevention of pathology

Measures to prevent diabetes are partly consistent with general recommendations for maintaining health and preventing disease. People with a genetic predisposition should watch especially carefully for:

• Maintain an active lifestyle and control your weight;
• Eat right and reduce consumption of fast carbohydrates (baked goods, sweets, etc. );
• Quit bad habits (smoking, regular drinking);
• Avoid unnecessary stress;
• After age 40, check your blood sugar levels once a year.

In order not to miss the development of diabetes, detect it early and help your body, it is important to monitor warning signs and consult a doctor immediately.