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, complaining of frequent emptying of the bladder. The disease is based on its lack of insulin against the background of an increased glucose level. Against the background of diabetes, appetite is often disturbed, general well-being deteriorates, wounds and ulcers do not heal well. The disease is chronic, characterized by continuous progression. Lack of therapy is fraught with stroke, kidney failure, heart attack, a significant decrease in visual acuity. A sharp fluctuation in blood sugar can cause hyper- or hypoglycemic coma.
Symptoms
Diabetes mellitus develops gradually, in the early stages there may be no specific symptoms. Often, a breach is discovered accidentally, during the next scheduled inspection.
Progression of the disease leads to complaints about:
- thirst and dry mouth
- insomnia
- cramps in the lower extremities
- itching of the skin
- inability
- decreased emotional stability
- frequent and frequent urination
- increased appetite
- dryness of the skin and mucous membranes, which is fraught with cracks, ulcerative lesions
- decrease in visual acuity.
Regeneration processes slow down: wounds, ulcers, incisions heal for a long time. Sensitivity in the legs decreases, until complete numbness. Progression of obesity is possible. As the disease spreads, the hairs on the legs begin to fall out, while the hairs of the facial skin may grow back. Xanthomas form in the body - small yellow formations.
The genitourinary system often suffers: vulvovaginitis is often diagnosed in women and balanoposthitis in women. Metabolic processes are disturbed, protection is reduced, the body becomes less resistant to infectious lesions. Prolonged lack of medical care can lead to osteoporosis. This is accompanied by complaints of joint and back pain, bone deformity and violation of their integrity.
Causes
Diabetes mellitus is associated with 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 the normal range and the level of sugar rises significantly. The disease is often diagnosed in patients of older age groups.
Among the predisposing factors that cause a violation are:
- hereditary predisposition
- nutritional errors
- cardiovascular diseases
- chronic stress
- adrenal cortex insufficiency
- excess weight
Diabetes can develop against the background of prolonged use of certain groups of drugs.
insulin resistance
Insulin resistance is a pathological condition that underlies the mechanisms of development of diabetes mellitus. In the body, tissue sensitivity to the action of insulin is reduced. There may be no specific symptoms. Violation is associated with excess body weight, increased blood pressure.
In patients, progression of fatty liver is observed, hyperpigmented areas may form on the skin: black acanthosis. To identify a violation, it is necessary to do a blood test for glucose, insulin, check the HOMA index. The basis of therapy is diet correction, moderate physical activity.
Overweight
Overweight people are at risk: adipose tissue blocks tissue sensitivity to the effects of insulin. This is one of the main factors leading to the development of the disease. Excess weight is detected by more than 89% with diabetes. The cause of such a violation may be maintaining a sedentary lifestyle, hereditary predispositions, metabolic disorders. Medical correction is required, the study of the psychological state, the selection of a suitable diet.
Tumors of the pancreas
Pancreatic tumors can provoke diabetes in people of different age groups. Typically, these neoplasms are benign and do not cause specific symptoms until they become large. 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, vessels and nerve endings suffer.
To confirm the diagnosis, the following diagnostic studies are included:
- tumor markers
- CT scan
- Magnetic resonance imaging
- boring
- biopsy
The treatment protocol is chosen individually. In most cases, surgery is indicated. With malignancy of the pathological process, a course of chemotherapy and radiation is also prescribed.
Sedentary lifestyle
With a lack of motor activity, mitochondria, the energy stations of every cell in the body, suffer. This leads to a disruption in the functioning of internal organs, a deterioration of mood and a tendency to depression. Many patients with diabetes tend to catch stress, rarely engaging in sports. Even 15-minute daily workouts can activate metabolic processes, improve cell sensitivity to insulin, and reduce the risk of diabetes. If it is not possible to practice every day, walking in the fresh air at a fast pace is indicated. It is recommended to walk and spend in the fresh air at least half an hour a day.
Cardiovascular diseases
Under the influence of cardiovascular disease, tissue sensitivity to insulin decreases and the risk of developing diabetes mellitus increases.
People who have been diagnosed with such disorders should be more vigilant:
- atherosclerosis
- hypertension
- coronary artery disease.
FDI is a myocardial lesion that occurs when there is insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle. It is the most common cause of death, exceeding 75%. It is most often seen in patients with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hypodynamics, obesity, as well as in smokers. It is important to treat the root causes of the disease in a timely manner, 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 a lack of nutrients. They often lack such essential substances:
- minerals including chromium, selenium, manganese, iron, zinc, copper
- Unsaturated fatty acids - healthy fats found in wild fish, ghee, quality cold pressed vegetable oils
- protein, which is the building material for new cells and tissues
- Fat soluble substances: vitamins A, E, D.
Diet is often dominated by simple carbohydrates and sugar, which negatively affect the intestinal microflora, reduce the body's protective properties. If an excessive amount of sugar and carbohydrates enters the body, this provokes an increase in glucose and overload the pancreas.
Endocrine diseases
Diabetes mellitus can develop against the background of endocrine diseases:
- pancreatitis
- pituitary failure
- hypothyroidism
- hyperthyroidism
- thyrotoxicosis
- dysfunction of the adrenal glands.
In this case, it requires a complex effect on the root cause, which provoked diabetes. Patients are often prescribed hormonal drugs: courses or on a regular basis. 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
Manifestation of diabetes mellitus is often observed with a long-term progressive infectious disease:
- shingles
- viral hepatitis
- shingles
Chronic infection weakens 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 medications can also provoke the onset of diabetes in the elderly or middle-aged.
The risk group includes people who receive:
- synthetic corticosteroids
- diuretic drugs
- cytostatic
Medication can only be taken as prescribed by a doctor. If medications cause insulin resistance with an increased risk of developing diabetes, it is advisable to review the appointment, adjust the dose, and choose alternative remedies to replace it. It is impossible to prescribe or stop taking the medication yourself, as this may worsen the course of the underlying disease, for the treatment of which the prescribed medication is recommended.
Chronic adrenal insufficiency
Kidney failure often leads to the development of diabetes. Occurs in patients with insufficient hormonal secretion of the adrenal glands. Characteristic symptoms: bronze pigmentation on the skin, mucous membranes, feeling of weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, impaired consciousness. Associated with disorders of water and electrolytes, dysfunction of the cardiovascular system. Treatment is carried out in a complex way: the root cause is eliminated, corticosteroids are used, symptomatic medication.
Possible complications
Lack of timely treatment of diabetes mellitus is fraught with such complications:
- Diabetic angiopathy - increased vascular permeability, increased risk of thrombosis, cardiovascular disease.
- Diabetic foot - appears 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 turn into neuropathy. This complication is rare, but requires timely and high-quality medical care.
- Diabetic nephropathy, in which it impairs the blood supply to the renal vessels and increases the chance of developing kidney failure.
- Diabetic coma is the most dangerous complication that is fraught with death.
Hyperglycemia occurs when there is a significant increase in blood glucose. This is accompanied by weakness, general malaise, loss of appetite, headache. If proper measures are not taken, the patient begins to feel sick, vomiting has the smell of acetone. Relieves abdominal pain, lowers blood pressure. To prevent dangerous complications, it is important to start treating your insulin resistance / diabetes mellitus at the right time and to monitor your blood glucose levels regularly. It is impossible to choose the medicines yourself, as they may not have the right therapeutic result and provoke complications.
Which doctor to contact
At the first symptoms of diabetes, it is recommended to consult an endocrinologist. The doctor will perform a comprehensive diagnosis using laboratory and instrumental techniques, will determine the degree of progression of the disorder. In the future, consultations of other doctors may be required: a cardiologist, a nutritionist, an oncologist, a gynecologist. It is important to follow all doctors' instructions and refrain from self-medication.
Diagnosing
To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor prescribes a comprehensive diagnosis:
- blood glucose on an empty stomach
- ketone bodies and sugar in the urine
- glycosylated hemoglobin
- C-peptide
- insulin
- glucose tolerance testing.
Special test strips are used to determine urine sugar. For timely detection of complications of diabetes mellitus, it is recommended to perform an ultrasound examination of the kidney, rheovasography of the extremities, as well as checking the structural and functional state of the brain.
Treatment
The treatment protocol is chosen for each patient individually. At the same time, age, concomitant chronic, somatic diseases are taken into account. Therapy is carried out for life, the patient should be under the constant supervision of an endocrinologist. In the first stage, they review the diet, reduce the number of meals.
Optimal are two meals a day, without snack. Breakfast with healthy fats, proteins, carbohydrates can be obtained from vegetables. Bread products, sugar sources and other simple carbohydrates are completely removed from the diet. Portions are small, provide satiety due to the balanced composition and the presence of fat.
Medication correction involves the use of such drug groups:
- hypoglycemic agents
- medicines 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. Medication will not help completely eliminate the problem. The patient is required to have a responsible attitude towards lifestyle correction and adherence to all 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 - the class under the supervision of an instructor. The volume of loads is recommended to discuss in advance with the doctor.
prevention
To prevent diabetes, it is important to monitor diet, normalize body weight, eliminate the source of stress, restore mode of work, rest and sleep. It is important to review your diet, include a sufficient amount of 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.
Special attention is paid to physical activity: daily walking in the fresh air, running, brisk walking, swimming and any other type of physical activity appropriate and possible. Physical inactivity is unacceptable and can worsen the course of insulin resistance. Breathing practices are beneficial: pranayama, Buteyko breathing, to ensure adequate oxygen supply to the tissues.
People and risk groups are advised to monitor indicators of glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin, insulin. At the first sign of a violation, refuse self-treatment and consult an experienced endocrinologist.
The prognosis for patients who sought immediate medical attention and revised their lifestyle is largely favorable. They can live long and quality lives without facing the dangerous complications of the disease. Lack of therapy leads to a reduction in life expectancy and to the development of acute / chronic complications.