Diabetes. . . Many have heard this word and know that "this disease is somehow related to sugar. "Some are afraid of getting sick, some don't care.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus is a group of endocrine diseases that develop due to a lack of the hormone insulin, resulting in the development of hyperglycemia - a continuous increase in blood glucose levels.
This disease is characterized by a chronic course and disruption of all types of metabolism: carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals and water salts. There are 2 types, each of which requires a separate approach.
How do I know if I have diabetes?
Naturally, the most accurate diagnostic methods are various blood and urine tests. Measuring your sugar level once is not enough, so if there is any suspicion, the doctor will definitely prescribe a series of tests for the patient to undergo.
What could cause such suspicion? The main symptoms are:
- Increased urine output is due to increased urine pressure due to glucose dissolved in it (normally there is no glucose in urine). Manifested by frequent and abundant urination, including at night.
- Persistent thirst that cannot be quenched is caused by significant water loss in the urine and increased blood osmotic pressure.
- Constant hunger is never satisfied. This symptom is caused by a metabolic disorder in diabetes, which is the inability of cells to absorb and process glucose in the absence of insulin (hungry in the middle of plenty).
- Weight loss (especially typical for type 1 diabetes) is a common symptom of diabetes, which develops despite the patient's increased appetite.
Therefore, if you find these symptoms, consult a doctor immediately!
What is the type of diabetes?
There are several classifications of diabetes mellitus according to various criteria. The main types of diabetes include type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is a disease in which the pancreas cannot produce insulin, which is responsible for the absorption of sugar by the body, the so-called insulin-dependent type. As a rule, it is diagnosed in people under the age of 30. Such patients have to receive insulin artificially (through continuous injections).
Type 2 diabetes accounts for 85-90% of all cases of diabetes in adults and is most common in people over the age of 40; often accompanied by obesity. It is especially important for such patients, as well as people who have family members with diabetes, to control their blood sugar levels.
This situation is complicated by the fact that, unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes appears gradually. You can be sick for a long time and not realize it. Often a person learns about his illness by chance, during an examination for a completely different reason.
Are there risk groups?
Yes, of course it is. Type 1 diabetes is most often inherited. The risk also increases with inflammation of pancreatic tissue, after injury and infection.
People at risk of developing type 2 diabetes are those whose parents have obesity and/or type 2 diabetes.
How to calculate if you are at risk of diabetes? It is necessary to measure waist circumference and hip circumference, divide the first indicator by the second. If the resulting value is greater than 0. 95 for men and 0. 85 for women, then you are at risk.
What are the complications caused by diabetes?
The main cause of chronic complications in diabetes is damage to small blood vessels and the peripheral nervous system. The walls of blood vessels and nerves experience excess sugar in the blood; penetrating into it, glucose is converted into substances that are toxic to these tissues. As a result, changes occur that disrupt the normal function of the organ, which has many small channels and nerve endings. If the patient maintains blood sugar in an acceptable value (6. 7-8. 0 mmol/l), then late diabetes complications do not occur.
The negative effects of diabetes have a strong effect on some organs and less on others, for example:
- Eyes - the retina is affected, diabetes can cause cataracts (cloudiness of the lens) and blindness (changes in the retina).
- Teeth - all diseases in the oral cavity develop at an accelerated rate due to lack of blood supply. Often there are cases when diabetes is detected in the dentist's office, where patients come with complaints of swollen gums and loose teeth.
- Heart - affected by diabetes; heart muscle changes, changes in blood vessels due to high cholesterol lead to coronary disease.
- Liver - when diabetes is undercompensated, its normal function is disrupted and the liver enlarges.
- The kidneys are directly affected by diabetes, resulting in diabetic nephropathy.
- Reproductive system. Diabetes in men leads to impotence, in women, miscarriage, premature birth, and fetal death in the womb are possible.
- The process of pregnancy and childbirth is very complicated for diabetic women. Pregnant women with diabetes mellitus require mandatory supervision by two specialists - an endocrinologist and an obstetrician.
- Feet and legs - suffering from diabetes due to damage to blood vessels and nerves. Possible results are trophic ulcers, gangrene, loss of limbs. In addition, feet and nails are prone to fungal diseases.
- Joints are more susceptible to processes such as salt deposition than healthy people; in addition, diabetic changes in the joints are possible.
- The circulatory system is directly affected by diabetes, which in turn initiates all the above diseases. Blood pressure in diabetic patients is usually high. Note that an additional factor that stimulates damage to blood vessels in diabetes is smoking.
Therefore, it is important to understand that only by controlling diabetes and successfully balancing it can you live a full life. In our country, as well as around the world, many people not only live with diabetes, but also achieve great success: conquer mountain tops, lead large organizations.
And do not despair if you hear such a diagnosis; it's all in your hands!
Can we cure diabetes?
Unfortunately, scientists have not yet created a drug that can completely cure diabetes patients. Currently, the treatment in most cases is symptomatic and aims to eliminate the symptoms without eliminating the cause of the disease.
Patient education plays a very important role in diabetes compensation. Patients must understand what diabetes mellitus is, why it is dangerous, what to do in case of sudden changes in blood sugar levels, how to avoid them, be able to control blood glucose levels independently and have a clear understanding of proper nutrition.
Does diabetes need to be treated?
No doubt! It is important to understand that this disease will not go away on its own. The most important goal in treating diabetes is to regularly monitor blood sugar levels and keep them at the levels recommended by your doctor.
If a person with diabetes approaches this issue responsibly, his health will be the same as that of a healthy person. In addition, the future prognosis in terms of complications, duration and quality of life will be favorable.
Is it difficult to control your blood glucose levels?
In the modern world this is no longer a problem. If previously blood sugar could only be measured in a laboratory, now it is very easy to do at home. To measure glucose, there is a high-precision glucometer. It is compact, very easy to use and specifically designed to measure your own glucose levels. If necessary, you can know your sugar level at home, at work, while traveling, etc.
The entire process takes seconds and requires only one drop of blood. The test strip draws in drops and the result appears on the screen.
Prevent diabetes
You need to remember that the best way to protect yourself is constant prevention, which you can do yourself:
- Active lifestyle and weight control. Diabetes is directly related to obesity. Physical activity helps lower blood sugar and reduce the need for insulin.
- Proper nutrition. Eat foods high in dietary fiber, which normalizes bowel function and lowers cholesterol levels. These products include all fruits and vegetables, legumes, dairy products, nuts and others.
- Rejection of excessive consumption of flour products, sweets, pasta and baked goods. Eat bread made only from whole grains.
- Avoid stress and don't smoke. One of the causes of diabetes is stress and anxiety. Stress and smoking reduce the body's resistance to diabetes.
- Monitor your blood glucose levels regularly if you are over 40 years old. It is also necessary to take a sugar test for those who tend to be obese and lead an inactive lifestyle.