Diabetes. . . Many have heard this word and know that "this disease is somehow linked to sugar. "Some people are afraid of getting sick, others don't care.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus is a group of endocrine diseases that develop as a result of insufficiency of the hormone insulin, leading to the development of hyperglycemia - a persistent increase in blood sugar levels.
The disease is characterized by a chronic course and disruption of all types of metabolism: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, minerals and water-salt. There are 2 types, each requiring a distinct 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 just once is not enough, so if in doubt, the doctor will certainly prescribe a series of tests to the patient.
What could arouse such suspicion? The main symptoms are:
- Increased urine output caused by an increase in urinary pressure due to the glucose dissolved in it (normally there is no glucose in the urine). Manifested by frequent and copious urination, including at night.
- Constant, unquenchable thirst is caused by significant losses of water in urine and an increase in osmotic pressure of blood.
- Constant insatiable hunger. This symptom is caused by a metabolic disorder of diabetes, namely the inability of cells to absorb and process glucose in the absence of insulin (plenty hunger).
- Weight loss (especially typical for type 1 diabetes) is a common symptom of diabetes, which develops despite patients' increased appetite.
Therefore, if you notice these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately!
What are the types of diabetes?
There are a number of classifications of diabetes mellitus according to various criteria. The main types of diabetes are types 1 and 2.
Type 1 diabetes is a disease in which the pancreas is unable to produce insulin, responsible for the body's absorption of sugar, of the so-called insulin-dependent type. Typically, it is diagnosed in people under 30 years old. These patients are forced to receive insulin artificially (through constant injections).
Type 2 diabetes accounts for 85-90% of all cases of diabetes in adults and is most common in people over 40; usually accompanied by obesity. It is especially important for these patients, as well as people who have a family member with diabetes, to control their blood sugar levels.
The situation is complicated by the fact that, unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes appears gradually. You can be sick for a long time without even realizing it. Often a person learns about his illness by chance, during an examination for a completely different reason.
Is there a risk group?
Yes of course. Type 1 diabetes is most often hereditary. The risk also increases if there is inflammation of the pancreatic tissue, following injuries and infections.
People at risk of developing type 2 diabetes are those whose parents were obese and/or type 2 diabetic.
How to calculate if you are at risk of developing diabetes? You need to measure your 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, you are at risk.
What complications does diabetes cause?
The main cause of chronic complications of diabetes is damage to small blood vessels and the peripheral nervous system. The walls of blood vessels and nerves suffer from excess blood sugar; upon entering, glucose transforms into substances toxic to these tissues. As a result, changes occur that disrupt the normal functioning of the organ, which has many small vessels and nerve endings. If the patient maintains his blood sugar levels within acceptable values (6. 7-8. 0 mmol/l), no late diabetic complications occur.
The negative effects of diabetes have a strong impact on certain organs and less on others, for example:
- Eyes - the retina is affected, diabetes can cause cataracts (clouding of the lens) and blindness (changes in the retina).
- Teeth - all diseases of the oral cavity develop at an accelerated pace due to lack of blood supply. It often happens that diabetes is detected in the dentist's office, where the patient complains of swollen gums and loose teeth.
- Heart – affected by diabetes; the heart muscle changes, changes in blood vessels due to high cholesterol lead to coronary heart disease.
- Liver - when diabetes is poorly compensated, its normal functioning is disrupted and the liver enlarges.
- The kidneys are directly affected by diabetes, leading to diabetic nephropathy.
- Reproductive system. Diabetes in men leads to impotence; in women, miscarriages, premature birth and intrauterine fetal death are possible.
- The pregnancy and childbirth process is very complicated for women with diabetes. Pregnant women suffering from diabetes mellitus require mandatory supervision of two specialists - an endocrinologist and an obstetrician.
- Legs and feet - suffer from diabetes due to damage to blood vessels and nerves. Possible results are trophic ulcers, gangrene, loss of limbs. Additionally, feet and nails are susceptible to fungal diseases.
- Joints are more sensitive to processes such as salt deposition than those of a healthy person; in addition, diabetic changes in the joints are possible.
- The circulatory system is directly affected by diabetes, which in turn is the cause of all the above diseases. Blood pressure in diabetics is usually high. Note that another factor that stimulates blood vessel damage in diabetes is smoking.
It is therefore important to understand that it is only by taking control of your diabetes and successfully compensating for it that you can live fully. In our country, as well as around the world, many people not only live with diabetes, but also achieve outstanding success: conquering mountain peaks, leading large organizations.
And you should not despair if you hear such a diagnosis; everything is in your hands!
Can diabetes be cured?
Unfortunately, scientists have not yet invented a remedy that can completely cure a diabetic patient. Currently, its treatment is in most cases symptomatic and aims to eliminate the symptoms without eliminating the cause of the disease.
Patient education plays a very important role in diabetes compensation. The patient must understand what diabetes mellitus is, why it is dangerous, what to do in case of sharp changes in blood sugar levels, how to avoid them, be able to independently control blood sugar levels and have a clear understanding ofgood nutrition.
Should diabetes be treated?
Undoubtedly! It is important to understand that this disease will not go away on its own. The most important goal of diabetes treatment is to constantly monitor blood sugar levels and maintain them at the level recommended by your doctor.
If a person with diabetes approaches this problem responsibly, his health will be the same as that of a healthy person. Furthermore, the future prognosis in terms of complications, duration and quality of life will be favorable.
Is it difficult to control your blood sugar?
In the modern world, this is no longer a problem. If previously blood sugar could only be measured in the laboratory, now it is very easy to do at home. To measure glucose, there are high precision glucometers. They are compact, very easy to use and designed specifically for self-measurement of blood sugar. If necessary, you can know your sugar level at home, at work, while traveling, etc.
The entire process takes literally seconds and requires only a single drop of blood. The test strip takes a drop and the result appears on the screen.
Prevent diabetes
Remember that the best way to protect yourself is constant prevention, which you can do yourself:
- Active lifestyle and weight control. Diabetes is directly linked to obesity. Physical activity helps lower blood sugar and reduce insulin needs.
- Good nutrition. Consume foods rich in dietary fiber, which normalize intestinal function and lower cholesterol levels. These products include all fruits and vegetables, legumes, dairy products, nuts and others.
- Refusal of excessive consumption of flour products, sweets, pasta and pastries. 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 sugar regularly if you are over 40. It is also necessary to do a sugar test for those who tend to be obese and lead a sedentary lifestyle.