Lack of the hormone insulin is a disease known to mankind since ancient times, but despite this and the speed of development of medical technologies, it is extremely difficult to gain new knowledge about the disease in the early stages. Many patients are not even aware of diabetes mellitus and attribute the symptoms to hormonal changes in the body and other diseases. Diabetes mellitus negatively affects health and metabolic processes, so it is extremely important to identify it as early as possible and start treatment in a timely manner.
What is diabetes mellitus?
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic endocrine disease that develops as a result of insulin deficiency. A hormone synthesized by the pancreas is involved in breaking down sugar and transporting glucose through the blood to organ tissues to provide extra energy for the body. With a lack of insulin, the level of sugar increases sharply, which has a negative effect on the body as a whole.
Reasons for the development of the disease
The disease occurs most frequently when the following causes or conditions are present:
- Hereditary predisposition, especially if the father has diabetes, the probability of developing the disease in children is much higher than if the disease is observed in the mother.
- Improper nutrition - the abuse of foods high in calories, glucose and carbohydrates.
- The presence of overweight, and with the second and subsequent degrees of obesity, the probability of developing diabetes mellitus increases by 80%.
- Lack of physical activity, low human activity.
- Frequent experiences with stressful situations or persistent depression. Severe shock or a nervous breakdown can also cause illness.
- Long-term use of drugs of a certain group, for example, hormonal, diuretic or choleretic.
- The presence of a viral infection in the body (chickenpox, flu, rubella).
symptoms of the disease
Warning signs that indicate the presence of the disease include:
- Constant thirst that does not go away even after heavy drinking.
- Frequent urination, especially at night. This causes some inconvenience and inconvenience and violates the established way of life.
- Drops of urine remain on the laundry, which after drying resemble traces of dried starch (white and dense spots).
- The person complains of fatigue and drowsiness.
- Vision is severely limited, all objects are blurred.
- Often accompanied by tingling and numbness, especially in the palms and soles.
- Slow and very poor healing of wounds, even the smallest and most insignificant.
- The patient is concerned about itching, which is especially strong in the groin area.
- Sudden weight loss for no apparent reason.
- Intense hunger that is difficult to satisfy.
It is important to remember that many of the symptoms already appear when there is a lack of insulin in the body and irreversible processes of disruption of the production of the hormone by the pancreas have begun. It is extremely difficult to determine the disease in its initial stages, so 80% of patients are unaware of the presence of the disease.
types of diabetes
There are 2 types of diabetes mellitus, which, despite some similarities, have characteristic differences.
- Type 1 diabetes (insulin dependent) is a disease characterized by the death of beta cells in the pancreas, whose main job is to produce insulin. As a result of this process, there is a deficiency of the hormone that causes diabetes. The causes of the development of the disease are a violation of the immune system, the presence of a viral infection in the human body. This type of condition usually affects children and adolescents. The only treatment option for the disease is regular insulin injections for the rest of your life.
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a disease that affects people over the age of thirty and develops as a result of a lack of perception by the body, tissue cells and organs of the insulin produced by the pancreas. Due to the body's wrong reaction to the hormone, glucose accumulates in the blood and provokes the course of negative processes in the body. In case of untimely treatment, insulin production is completely stopped, since an increased level of glucose in the blood affects the beta cells and contributes to their destruction.
diagnosis of diabetes
To diagnose the disease, you need to contact the clinic to see an endocrinologist specializing in this disease. The following procedures and examinations are carried out for testing:
- Fasting blood test for blood sugar level. In some cases, when the patient is at risk for the disease, a stress test is done to determine glucose tolerance.
- Conducting a urine test for sugar content and determining its content. A urine test for the presence of acetone may also be done.
- It is also important to conduct an analysis for the installation of glycated hemoglobin, which will help determine the average blood sugar over the past three months.
- It is important to remember that diabetes is a chronic disease that cannot be cured, so regular maintenance therapy is required 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 tools, injections have become much easier, insulin pumps and pens are used for this. The dose of insulin is set 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 comorbidities (e. g. obesity) and the patient's lifestyle.
With incomplete pancreatic insufficiency, the doctor can prescribe medications that can stimulate the production of the hormone in the human body. To eliminate insulin resistance in the body, other groups of drugs that eliminate insulin resistance and help maintain human health can be used. An important factor is compliance with a special diet, during which foods with a minimum content of sugar and carbohydrates are selected, and also stimulate the pancreas.
disease prevention
In order 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:
- People who are particularly at risk are recommended to have their blood sugar levels checked regularly. People over 40 should do this study regularly, at least twice a year.
- Changing eating habits, switching to a balanced diet with mostly healthy foods - low-glucose fruits, vegetables, fish, lean meat. In addition, it is recommended to follow a diet, dividing food intake into three equal meals and several snacks.
- Daily simple physical exercises that help normalize weight and reduce the likelihood of developing diabetes.
- Normalization of weight, reducing the likelihood of developing the disease.