Diabetes mellitus is a chronic endocrine pathology that develops in people with insulin resistance and pancreatic dysfunction. Accompanied by persistent hyperglycemia. Patients are constantly thirsty, complain of frequent emptying of the bladder. The disease is based on a deficiency of insulin on its own against the background of elevated glucose levels. Against the background of diabetes, appetite is often impaired, general well-being deteriorates, wounds and ulcers do not heal well. The disease is chronic, characterized by constant progression. Lack of therapy is fraught with stroke, renal failure, heart attack, significant reduction in visual acuity. Sudden fluctuations in blood sugar can cause hyper- or hypoglycaemic coma.
Symptoms
Diabetes mellitus develops gradually, in the early stages there may be no specific symptoms. Often a violation is discovered by accident during the next scheduled inspection.
Progression of the disease leads to complaints of:
- thirst and dry mouth
- insomnia
- cramps in the lower extremities
- itchy skin
- damage
- reduced emotional lability
- copious and frequent urination
- increased appetite
- dryness of the skin and mucous membranes, which is fraught with cracks, ulcerative lesions
- reduction of visual acuity.
The processes of regeneration are slowed down: wounds, ulcers, cuts heal for a long time. Sensitivity in the legs decreases, until complete numbness. Progression of obesity is possible. As the disease spreads, the hair on the legs begins to fall out, while the hairiness of the facial skin may increase. Xanthomas form on the body - small yellow formations.
The genitourinary system often suffers: vulvovaginitis is often diagnosed in women and balanoposthitis in women. Metabolic processes are disrupted, defenses are reduced, the body becomes less resistant to infectious lesions. Prolonged lack of medical care can lead to osteoporosis. This is accompanied by complaints of pain in the joints and spine, deformity of the bones and disorders of their integrity.
Reasons
Diabetes mellitus is accompanied by tissue insulin resistance. This means that they become less sensitive to the effects of insulin. At the same time, the level of insulin in the blood plasma often remains within normal limits, and the level of sugar rises significantly. The disease is often diagnosed in patients from older groups.
Among the predisposing factors that cause the disorder are:
- hereditary predisposition
- eating errors
- cardiovascular disease
- chronic stress
- adrenal insufficiency
- Overweight
Diabetes can develop against the background of long-term use of certain groups of drugs.
insulin resistance
Insulin resistance is a pathological condition that underlies the mechanisms of diabetes development. In the body, the sensitivity of tissues to the action of insulin decreases. There may be no specific symptoms. The disorder is accompanied by overweight, high blood pressure.
In patients, progression of fatty liver disease is noted, hyperpigmented areas may form on the skin: black acanthosis. To identify the disorder, it is necessary to do a blood test for glucose, insulin, to check the HOMA index. The basis of therapy is dietary adjustment, moderate physical activity.
Overweight
Overweight people are at risk: adipose tissue blocks the sensitivity of tissues to the effects of insulin. This is one of the main factors that lead to the development of the disease. Overweight is detected by more than 89% in diabetes. The reason for such a disorder may be the maintenance of a sedentary lifestyle, hereditary predisposition, metabolic disorders. There is a need for medical correction, examination of the psychological state, selection of an appropriate diet.
Tumor of the pancreas
Tumors of the pancreas can provoke diabetes in people of different ages. These neoplasms are usually benign and do not cause specific symptoms until they become large. The lack of timely therapy is met with the transformation of a benign tumor into a malignant one. At the same time, symptoms of general intoxication appear, compression of the surrounding organs is observed, vessels and nerve endings suffer.
The following diagnostic tests are performed to confirm the diagnosis:
- tumor markers
- CT scan
- Magnetic resonance
- puncture
- biopsy
The treatment protocol is chosen individually. In most cases, surgery is indicated. In case of malignancy of the pathological process, a course of chemotherapy and radiation therapy is additionally prescribed.
Sedentary way of life
In the absence of motor activity, mitochondria, the energy stations of every cell in the body, suffer. This leads to dysfunction of internal organs, mood swings and a tendency to depression. Many patients with diabetes tend to endure stress, rarely doing sports. Even daily 15-minute workouts can activate metabolic processes, improve cell sensitivity to insulin and reduce the risk of diabetes. If it is not possible to practice daily, hiking in the fresh air at a fast pace is shown. It is recommended to walk and spend at least half an hour a day in the fresh air.
Cardiovascular diseases
Under the influence of cardiovascular disease, tissue sensitivity to insulin decreases and the risk of developing diabetes increases.
People who have been diagnosed with such disorders should be most vigilant:
- atherosclerosis
- hypertension
- coronary artery disease.
CHD is a myocardial lesion that occurs when the blood supply to the heart muscle is insufficient. This is the most common cause of death, exceeding 75%. It is most common in patients with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hypodynamia, obesity, and smokers. It is important to promptly treat the root causes of the disease, to be regularly examined by a cardiologist.
Improper nutrition
An important factor is the diet of people with diabetes. They are prone to overeating while suffering from nutrient deficiencies. They are often deficient in such essential substances:
- minerals, including chromium, selenium, manganese, iron, zinc, copper
- polyunsaturated fatty acids - healthy fats found in wild fish, ghee, quality cold pressed vegetable oils
- protein, which is a building material for new cells and tissues
- fat-soluble substances: vitamins A, E, D.
The diet is often dominated by simple carbohydrates and sugar, which adversely affect the intestinal microflora, reduce the protective properties of the body. If excess sugar and carbohydrates enter the body, it provokes spikes in glucose and overloads the pancreas.
Endocrine diseases
Diabetes mellitus can develop against the background of endocrine diseases:
- Pancreatitis
- pituitary insufficiency
- hypothyroidism
- hyperthyroidism
- thyrotoxicosis
- adrenal gland dysfunction.
In this case, a complex impact on the root cause that provoked diabetes is needed. Patients are often prescribed hormonal drugs: courses or regularly. It is also important to eliminate the source of stress, to normalize sleep. It is important to ensure adequate intake of iodine, selenium, zinc and iron to ensure the normal functioning of the endocrine glands.
Infectious diseases
Diabetes mellitus is often seen in long-term progressive infectious disease:
- herpes
- viral hepatitis
- herpes
Chronic infection depletes the body's defenses, making it more susceptible to other diseases. The primary manifestation of hepatitis can become a symptom of a viral disease. In this case, it is important to work with the root cause - the source of infection and reduce the viral load on the body. To do this, use antiviral drugs, immunostimulants, drugs for symptomatic correction.
Medications
Certain groups of drugs can also provoke the onset of diabetes in old age or middle age.
The risk group includes people who take:
- synthetic corticosteroids
- diuretic drugs
- cytostatics
Medicines can only be taken with a doctor's prescription. If the drugs cause insulin resistance with an increased risk of developing diabetes, it is recommended that you reconsider the appointment, adjust the dose and choose alternative means to replace it. It is not possible to prescribe or stop taking medication on your own, as this may worsen the course of the underlying disease for which the described medications are recommended.
Chronic insufficiency of the adrenal cortex
Adrenal insufficiency often leads to the development of diabetes. It occurs in patients with insufficient hormonal secretion of the adrenal glands. Typical symptoms: bronze pigmentation of the skin, mucous membranes, feeling weak, vomiting, diarrhea, impaired consciousness. Accompanied by water-electrolyte disorders, dysfunction of the cardiovascular system. The treatment is performed in a complex way: the root cause is eliminated, corticosteroids, symptomatic drugs are used.
Possible complications
The lack of timely treatment of diabetes is fraught with such complications:
- Diabetic angiopathy - increased vascular permeability, increased risk of thrombosis, cardiovascular disease.
- Diabetic foot - occurs against the background of circulatory disorders in the lower extremities.
- Trophic ulcers in the lower extremities.
- Diabetic polyneuropathy, a condition that affects the peripheral nerves, occurs in more than 70% of patients with diabetes. Over time, polyneuropathy can transform into neuropathy. This complication is rare, but requires timely, high-quality medical care.
- Diabetic nephropathy, in which it disrupts the blood supply to the vessels of the kidneys and increases the likelihood of developing renal failure.
- Diabetic coma is the most dangerous complication that is fraught with death.
Hyperglycemia occurs when there is a significant increase in blood sugar. This is accompanied by weakness, malaise, loss of appetite, headache. If appropriate measures are not taken, the patient begins to feel unwell, vomiting has the smell of acetone. Relieves abdominal pain, lowers blood pressure. To prevent dangerous complications, it is important to start treatment for insulin resistance / diabetes and monitor your blood sugar levels in a timely manner. It is impossible to choose drugs yourself, as they may not have the appropriate therapeutic result and provoke complications.
Which doctor to go to
At the first symptoms of diabetes, consultation with an endocrinologist is recommended. The doctor will conduct a comprehensive diagnosis with the help of laboratory and instrumental techniques, will determine the degree of progression of the disorder. In the future it may be necessary to consult other doctors: cardiologist, nutritionist, oncologist, gynecologist. It is important to follow all the instructions of the doctors and refrain from self-medication.
Diagnosis
To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor prescribes a complete diagnosis:
- blood glucose on an empty stomach
- ketone bodies and sugar in the urine
- glycosylated hemoglobin
- C-peptide
- insulin
- glucose tolerance test.
Special test strips are used to determine the sugar in the urine. For timely detection of complications of diabetes, ultrasound examination of the kidneys, rheovasography of the limbs, as well as checking the structural and functional state of the brain is recommended.
Treatment
The treatment protocol is chosen individually for each patient. At the same time, age and concomitant chronic, somatic diseases are taken into account. The therapy is carried out for life, the patient must be under the constant supervision of an endocrinologist. In the first stage, they reconsider the diet, reduce the number of meals.
Two meals a day, without snacks, is optimal. Breakfast with healthy fats, proteins, carbohydrates can be obtained from vegetables. Bakery products, sources of sugar and other simple carbohydrates are completely eliminated from the diet. Portions are small, provide satiety due to the balanced composition and the presence of fat.
Drug correction involves the use of such groups of drugs:
- hypoglycaemic agents
- drugs to restore blood circulation and microcirculation
- medicines for high blood pressure (if indicated)
The treatment regimen is chosen individually and is often supplemented with vitamin-mineral complexes, amino acids: taurine, glycine. Medications will not help to completely eliminate the problem. The patient is required to take a responsible attitude towards lifestyle adjustments and follow all the doctor's recommendations.
Patients with diabetes are shown moderate physical activity. This avoids further progression of the pathological process and the development of complications. Daily walking, yoga, swimming, gymnastics, breathing exercises are recommended. The best option - classes under the supervision of an instructor. The volume of the load is recommended to discuss with your doctor in advance.
Prevention
To prevent diabetes, it is important to follow a diet, normalize body weight, eliminate the source of stress, restore the regime of work, rest and sleep. It is important to review your diet, include enough healthy fats, fiber and reduce simple carbohydrates. It is important to restore sleep: go to bed no later than 23: 00, sleep in a dark and cool room.
Particular attention is paid to physical activity: daily walking in the fresh air, running, brisk walking, swimming and all other suitable, feasible types of physical activity. Lack of physical activity is unacceptable and may worsen the course of insulin resistance. Breathing practices are useful: pranayama, Buteyko breathing to ensure a sufficient oxygen supply to the tissues.
People and risk groups are advised to monitor glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin, insulin. At the first sign of a disorder, refuse self-medication and consult an experienced endocrinologist.
The prognosis for patients who have sought timely medical care and reconsidered their lifestyle is mostly favorable. They can live a long and quality life without facing the dangerous complications of the disease. Lack of therapy leads to reduced life expectancy and acute / chronic complications.