Diabetes mellitus is a chronic endocrine pathology that develops in patients with insulin resistance and pancreatic dysfunction. It is accompanied by persistent hyperglycemia. Patients are constantly thirsty, complaining of frequent emptying of the bladder. The disease is based on its own lack of insulin, against the background of elevated glucose levels. Against the background of diabetes, appetite often deteriorates, general well-being deteriorates, and wounds and ulcers do not heal well. The disease is characterized by chronic, constant progression. Lack of therapy is associated with stroke, renal failure, myocardial infarction, and a significant decrease in visual acuity. Sharp fluctuations in blood sugar levels can cause hyper- or hypoglycaemic coma.
Symptoms
Diabetes mellitus develops gradually, and in the early stages there may be no specific symptoms. It is often the case that a violation is detected accidentally during the next scheduled inspection.
The progression of the disease leads to the following complaints:
- thirst and dry mouth
- insomnia
- cramps in the lower extremities
- itchy skin
- disability
- decreased emotional lability
- abundant and frequent urination
- increased appetite
- dryness of the skin and mucous membranes, full of cracks, ulcerative lesions
- decreased visual acuity.
Regeneration processes slow down: wounds, ulcers, cuts heal for a long time. The sensitivity of the legs decreases until complete numbness. Progression of obesity is possible. As the disease spreads, the hair on the legs begins to fall, while the hairiness of the facial skin may increase. Xanthomas form on the body - small yellow formations.
The urinary system often suffers from: vulvovaginitis is often diagnosed in women and balanoposthitis in women. Metabolic processes are disrupted, defenses are reduced, and the body is less resistant to infectious lesions. Prolonged lack of medical care can lead to osteoporosis. This is accompanied by complaints of joint and spine pain, bone deformity, and violation of its integrity.
Cause
Diabetes is accompanied by tissue insulin resistance. This means that they are less sensitive to the effects of insulin. However, insulin levels in the blood often remain within the normal range and sugar levels rise significantly. The disease is often diagnosed in the elderly.
Predictive factors for infringement include:
- hereditary predisposition
- nutritional errors
- cardiovascular diseases
- chronic stress
- adrenal insufficiency
- overweight
Diabetes may be the cause of long-term use of certain groups of medicines.
insulin resistance
Insulin resistance is a pathological condition that underlies the mechanisms underlying the development of diabetes mellitus. Insulin sensitivity in the body is reduced by insulin. There may be no specific symptoms. The violation is accompanied by overweight and increased blood pressure.
Patients have a progression of fatty hepatic liver disease, hyperpigmented areas of the skin may develop: black acantiosis. To identify the violation, a blood test should be performed for glucose, insulin, and the HOMA index should be checked. The basis of therapy is the correction of diet, moderate physical activity.
Overweight
Overweight people are at risk: adipose tissue blocks the sensitivity of tissues to insulin. This is one of the key factors leading to the development of the disease. Being overweight is seen in more than 89% of diabetics. The reason for such a violation may be the maintenance of a sedentary lifestyle, hereditary predisposition, metabolic disorders. Medical correction is required, study of mental condition, selection of appropriate diet.
Tumor of the pancreas
Tumors of the pancreas can cause diabetes in different age groups. These tumors are typically benign and do not cause specific symptoms until they become large. The lack of timely therapy is fraught 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, and blood vessels and nerve endings suffer.
The following diagnostic tests must be performed to confirm the diagnosis:
- tumor markers
- CT scan
- Magnetic resonance imaging
- thrust
- biopsy
The treatment protocol is selected individually. In most cases, surgery is indicated. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are also prescribed for malignancies of the pathological process.
Sedentary lifestyle
Due to the lack of motor activity, mitochondria, the energy stations of every cell in the body, suffer. This is associated with dysfunction of the internal organs, deterioration of mood and a tendency to depression. Many diabetics tend to seize stress, rarely playing sports. Even a 15-minute workout a day can activate your metabolic processes, improve your cell’s insulin sensitivity, and reduce your risk of diabetes. If there is no opportunity for daily exercise, you can see the fast-paced hiking in the fresh air. It is recommended to walk and spend at least half an hour a day in the fresh air.
Cardiovascular diseases
Cardiovascular disease reduces the insulin sensitivity of tissues and increases the risk of developing diabetes.
The greatest vigilance should be exercised by those who have been diagnosed with such disorders:
- arteriosclerosis
- arterial hypertension
- coronary artery disease.
IHD is a lesion of the heart muscle that occurs when the heart muscle is not sufficient for blood supply. It is the most common cause of death, exceeding 75%. It is most common in patients with high blood pressure, hyperlipidaemia, hypodynamics, obesity and smokers. It is important that the causes of the disease are treated in a timely manner and examined regularly by a cardiologist.
Malnutrition
A significant factor is the diet of diabetics. They tend to overeat while suffering from nutrient deficiencies. These essential materials are often missing:
- minerals including chromium, selenium, manganese, iron, zinc, copper
- polyunsaturated fatty acids - healthy fats in wild fish, ghee, quality cold pressed vegetable oils
- protein, which is the building block of new cells and tissues
- fat-soluble substances: vitamins A, E, D.
The diet is often dominated by simple carbohydrates and sugar, which negatively affect the intestinal microflora, reducing the body’s protective properties. If too much sugar and carbohydrates get into the body, it causes glucose overload and overloads the pancreas.
Endocrine diseases
Diabetes can be caused by endocrine disorders:
- pancreatitis
- pituitary insufficiency
- hypothyroidism
- hyperthyroidism
- thyrotoxicosis
- adrenal dysfunction.
In this case, it requires a complex effect on the cause of diabetes. Patients are often prescribed hormonal medications: on course or regularly. It is also important to eliminate the source of stress and normalize sleep. Adequate intake of iodine, selenium, zinc and iron is important for the normal functioning of endocrine glands.
Infectious diseases
Manifestation of diabetes mellitus is common in a 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 may be a symptom of a viral disease. In this case, it is important to work with the root cause - the source of the infection - and reduce the body's viral load. Use antiviral drugs, immunostimulants, symptomatic corrective drugs for this.
Medicines
Some groups of medicines can cause diabetes in the elderly or middle-aged.
The risk group includes those who:
- synthetic corticosteroids
- diuretics
- cytostatics
Medicines should only be taken as prescribed by your doctor. If the drug causes insulin resistance with an increased risk of developing diabetes, it is advisable to rethink the time, adjust the dose, and choose an alternative to replace it. It is not possible to prescribe or discontinue stand-alone medications as this may worsen the course of the underlying disease for which the medications described have been recommended.
Chronic adrenal insufficiency
Adrenal insufficiency often leads to the development of diabetes. It occurs in patients in whom the hormonal secretion of the adrenal glands is insufficient. Typical symptoms: bronze pigmentation on the skin, mucous membranes, feeling weak, vomiting, diarrhea, confusion. It is accompanied by water and electrolytic disorders, cardiovascular disorders. The treatment is performed in a complex way: the cause is eliminated, corticosteroids and symptomatic agents are used.
Possible complications
The lack of timely treatment for diabetes mellitus is fraught with the following complications:
- Diabetic angiopathy - increased vascular permeability, increased risk of thrombosis, cardiovascular disease.
- Diabetic foot - occurs in the background of circulatory disorders of the lower extremities.
- Trophic ulcers in the lower extremities.
- Diabetic polyneuropathy, which affects the peripheral nerves, occurs in more than 70% of diabetics. Over time, polyneuropathy can transform into neuropathy. This complication requires rare but timely, high quality medical care.
- Diabetic nephropathy, in which the blood supply to the blood vessels in the kidneys is impaired and the likelihood of developing kidney failure is increased.
- Diabetic coma is the most dangerous complication that is fraught with death.
Hyperglycaemia occurs when blood sugar levels rise significantly. This is accompanied by weakness, general malaise, loss of appetite, headache. If appropriate measures are not taken, the patient will feel unwell and the vomiting will smell of acetone. Relieves abdominal pain, lowers blood pressure. To prevent dangerous complications, it is important to start treatment for insulin resistance / diabetes mellitus in time and to keep your blood sugar levels under control. It is impossible to select medications on their own as they may not have adequate therapeutic results and may cause complications.
Which doctor to go to
An endocrinologist should be consulted for the first symptoms of diabetes. The doctor makes a comprehensive diagnosis using laboratory and instrumental techniques to determine the extent of the progression of the disorder. In the future, it may be necessary to consult other doctors: a cardiologist, a nutritionist, an oncologist, a gynecologist. It is important that you follow all the instructions of your doctors and refrain from self-medication.
Diagnostics
To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor will prescribe a comprehensive diagnosis:
- blood sugar level 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. To detect complications of diabetes mellitus in a timely manner, ultrasound examination of the kidneys, reovascularization of the limbs, and monitoring of the structural and functional status of the brain are recommended.
Treatment
The treatment protocol is selected individually for each patient. At the same time, age, concomitant chronic, somatic diseases are taken into account. Therapy is continued for a lifetime and the patient should be under the supervision of a permanent endocrinologist. In the first stage, they review their diet, reducing the number of meals.
The optimal meal twice a day without snacks. It is obtained from breakfast vegetables that contain healthy fats, protein and carbohydrates. Bakery products, sugar sources and other simple carbohydrates are completely eliminated from the diet. The portions are small, providing satiety due to the balanced composition and the presence of fat.
Drug correction involves the use of the following groups of drugs:
- hypoglycaemic agents
- drugs to restore blood circulation and microcirculation
- antihypertensive drugs (if indicated)
The treatment regimen is selected individually and is often supplemented with vitamin-mineral complexes and amino acids: taurine, glycine. Medications do not help to completely eliminate the problem. The patient should take a responsible attitude to correct their lifestyle and follow all of the doctor’s recommendations.
Diabetics show moderate physical activity. This avoids further progression of the pathological process and the development of complications. Recommended daily walks, yoga, swimming, gymnastics, breathing exercises. The best option - classes under the supervision of an instructor. It is recommended to discuss the amount of loads with your doctor in advance.
Prevention
To prevent diabetes, it is important to monitor your diet, normalize your body weight, eliminate the source of stress, and restore your way of working, rest, and sleep. It is important to review your diet, get the right amount of healthy fats and fiber, and reduce your simple carbs. It is important to restore sleep: lie down by 23: 00 at the latest, sleep in a dark, cool room.
Particular attention should be paid to physical activity: daily walks in the fresh air, running, brisk walking, swimming and any other suitable, feasible physical activity. Physical inactivity is unacceptable and may exacerbate the course of insulin resistance. Breathing exercises are useful: pranayama, Buteyko breathing to ensure sufficient oxygen supply to the tissues.
People and groups at risk are advised to monitor the levels of glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin, insulin. At the first sign of a violation, refuse self-medication and consult an experienced endocrinologist.
The prognosis for patients who seek immediate medical attention and make lifestyle changes is mostly favorable. They can live a long, quality life without facing the dangerous complications of the disease. Lack of therapy leads to a reduction in life expectancy and acute / chronic complications.