Insulin hormone deficiency is a disease known to mankind since ancient times, but despite the speed of development of medical technology, gaining new knowledge about the disease is extremely difficult to identify in the early stages. Many patients are not even aware of the presence of diabetes, attributing the symptoms of hormonal changes in the body and other diseases. Diabetes has a negative impact on health and metabolic processes, so it is extremely important to identify it as early as possible and start timely treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic endocrinological disease that develops as a result of a lack of insulin. A hormone synthesized by the pancreas is involved in breaking down sugar and transporting glucose through the blood to the tissues of the organs to provide the body with extra energy. In the absence of insulin, the sugar level rises significantly, which has a negative effect on the whole body.
Causes of the disease
The disease occurs most often in the presence of the following causes or prerequisites:
- Hereditary predisposition, especially if the father suffers from diabetes, the probability of developing the disease in children is much higher than if the disease is observed in the mother.
- Malnutrition - the abuse of foods high in calories, glucose and carbohydrates.
- The presence of overweight, as well as in the second and subsequent stages of obesity, the likelihood of developing diabetes increases by 80%.
- Lack of physical activity, low human activity.
- Frequent experiences of stressful situations or prolonged depression. Severe shock or nervous breakdown can also provoke illness.
- Long-term use of drugs from a certain group, such as hormonal, diuretic or choleretic.
- The presence of a viral infection in the body (chickenpox, influenza, rubella).
Symptoms of the disease
Warning signals that are evidence of the disease include:
- Constant feeling of thirst, which does not disappear even after heavy drinking.
- Frequent urination, especially at night. This causes some discomfort and inconvenience, disrupts the established lifestyle.
- Drops of urine remain on the underwear, which when dried resemble traces of dried starch (white and thick spots).
- The person complains of fatigue and drowsiness.
- Vision is sharply reduced, all objects are blurred.
- It is often accompanied by a feeling of tingling and numbness, especially in the palms and soles.
- Slow and very poor wound healing, even the smallest and insignificant.
- The patient is concerned about itching, which is particularly intense in the groin area.
- Sudden weight loss for no other apparent reason.
- Strong hunger that is difficult to satisfy.
It is important to remember that many of the symptoms appear when there is a deficiency of insulin in the body and irreversible processes of disruption of hormone production by the pancreas have begun. It is extremely difficult to diagnose the disease at an early stage, so 80% of patients are not aware of the presence of the disease.
Types of diabetes
There are 2 types of diabetes that have characteristic differences despite some similarities.
- Type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent) is a disease characterized by the death of pancreatic beta cells, whose main role is insulin production. As a result of this process, a deficiency of the hormone that provokes diabetes occurs. The reasons for the development of the disease include a violation of the immune system, the presence of a viral infection in the human body. As a rule, this type of disease affects children and adolescents. The only way to treat the disease is regular insulin injections for the rest of your life.
- Type 2 diabetes is a disease that affects people over the age of thirty and develops as a result of a lack of absorption by the body, tissue cells and organs of insulin produced by the pancreas. Due to the body's improper response to the hormone, glucose accumulates in the blood and provokes the negative processes in the body. In case of untimely treatment, the production of insulin stops completely, because the increased level of glucose in the blood adversely affects the beta cells and contributes to their destruction.
Diagnosis of diabetes
To diagnose the disease, you should contact the clinic to see an endocrinologist who specializes in this disease. The following procedures and tests are performed for review:
- Fasting blood test for blood sugar levels. In some cases, when the patient is at risk of the disease, a stress test is performed to determine glucose tolerance.
- Carrying out a urine test for sugar content and determining its level. A urine test for acetone may also be done.
- It is also important to perform an analysis to install glycated hemoglobin, which will help determine the average blood sugar in the last three months.
- It is important to remember that diabetes is a chronic disease that cannot be cured, so regular maintenance therapy is needed to maintain a normal condition.
Treatment of the disease
The main treatment for type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent) is regular insulin injections. Thanks to modern medical instruments, injections have become much easier, using insulin pumps and pens. The dose of insulin is determined individually for each patient and it is not recommended to change it yourself. The amount of insulin depends on the blood sugar level, the presence of other concomitant diseases (eg obesity), the patient's lifestyle.
In case of incomplete pancreatic insufficiency, the doctor may prescribe drugs that can stimulate the production of the hormone in the human body. Other groups of drugs that eliminate insulin resistance and help maintain human health can be used to eliminate insulin resistance in the body. An important factor is the observance of a special diet, which selects foods with a minimum of sugar, carbohydrates, as well as stimulating the pancreas.
Disease prevention
To avoid the development of the disease, it is important to follow the recommendations of the endocrinologist, which will help maintain health and not fall into the risk group. Preventive methods include:
- Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels is recommended especially for those at risk. People over the age of forty should have this test regularly, at least twice a year.
- Changing eating habits, switching to a balanced diet with a predominance of healthy foods - low-glucose fruits, vegetables, fish, lean meat. In addition, it is recommended to follow a diet and divide food intake into three equal meals and several snacks.
- Perform daily simple exercise that will help normalize weight and reduce the likelihood of developing diabetes.
- Normalize weight, which will help reduce the likelihood of developing the disease.