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 its own insulin against the background of an increased level of glucose. In the context of diabetes, appetite is often disturbed, general well-being worsens, wounds and ulcers do not heal well. The disease is chronic, characterized by constant progression. The 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 violation is detected by chance during the next scheduled inspection.
The progression of the disease leads to complaints of:
- thirst and dry mouth
- insomnia
- cramps in the lower extremities
- skin itch
- inability
- decreased emotional lability
- profuse and frequent urination
- increased appetite
- dryness of the skin and mucous membranes, which is fraught with cracking, ulcerative lesions
- decreased visual acuity.
Regeneration processes slow down: wounds, ulcers, cuts heal for a long time. The sensation in the legs diminishes, until complete numbness. The progression of obesity is possible. As the disease spreads, hair on the legs begins to fall out, while the hairiness of the skin on the face may increase. Xanthomas are formed on the body - small yellow formations.
The genitourinary system often suffers: vulvovaginitis is often diagnosed in women and balanoposthitis in women. Metabolic processes are disturbed, defenses are reduced, the body becomes less resistant to infectious injuries. Prolonged lack of medical care can lead to osteoporosis. This is accompanied by complaints of pain in the joints and spine, deformation of bones and violations of their integrity.
Causes
Diabetes mellitus is accompanied by tissue resistance to insulin. This means that they become less sensitive to the effects of insulin. At the same time, the level of insulin in the blood plasma usually remains within the normal range, and the sugar level increases significantly. The disease is often diagnosed in patients of older age groups.
Among the predisposing factors that cause a breach are:
- hereditary predisposition
- nutritional errors
- cardiovascular diseases
- chronic stress
- adrenal cortex 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 underlying the mechanisms of development of diabetes mellitus. In the body, the sensitivity of tissues to the action of insulin decreases. There may be no specific symptoms. Violation is accompanied by excess body weight, increased blood pressure.
In patients, progression of fatty hepatosis of the liver is observed, hyperpigmented areas may form on the skin: black acanthosis. To identify a violation, it is necessary to take a blood test for glucose, insulin, check the HOMA index. The basis of therapy is diet correction, moderate physical activity.
Overweight
People who are overweight are at risk: Adipose tissue blocks the tissue's susceptibility to the effects of insulin. This is one of the main factors that leads to the development of the disease. Overweight is detected in more than 89% of diabetics. The cause of such a violation can be the maintenance of a sedentary lifestyle, hereditary predisposition, metabolic disorders. Medical correction, the study of the psychological state, the selection of a suitable diet are necessary.
pancreas tumor
Pancreatic tumors can cause diabetes in people of different age groups. These neoplasms are usually benign and do not cause specific symptoms until they become large. The lack of timely therapy is worrisome with the transformation of a benign tumor into a malignant one. At the same time, symptoms of general intoxication appear, compression of Organs surrounding organs is observed, vessels and nerve endings suffer.
To confirm the diagnosis, the following diagnostic studies are involved:
- tumor markers
- computed tomography
- MRI image
- puncture
- biopsy
The treatment protocol is selected individually. In most cases, surgery is indicated. With malignancy of the pathological process, a course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is additionally prescribed.
sedentary lifestyle
With a lack of motor activity, mitochondria, the power stations of every cell in the body, suffer. This leads to an interruption in the functioning of Organs internal organs, a deterioration of mood and a tendency to depression. Many patients with diabetes tend to enjoy stress, rarely playing sports. Even 15-minute daily exercise can activate metabolic processes, improve the susceptibility of cells to insulin and reduce the risk of diabetes. If it is not possible to practice daily, walking outdoors at a fast pace is shown. It is recommended to walk and spend at least half an hour in the open air a day.
Cardiovascular diseases
Under the influence of cardiovascular diseases, tissue sensitivity to insulin decreases and the risk of developing diabetes mellitus increases.
Greater vigilance should be demonstrated by people who have been diagnosed with such disorders:
- atherosclerosis
- arterial hypertension
- coronary artery disease.
IHD is a myocardial injury that occurs when there is insufficient blood supply to the heart muscles. It is the most common cause of death, exceeding 75%. More often seen in patients with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hypodynamia, obesity, as well as in smokers. It is important to treat the causes of the disease in a timely manner, regularly examined by a cardiologist.
inadequate nutrition
A significant factor is the diet of people with diabetes. They are prone to overeating while suffering from nutrient deficiency. They usually have a deficiency of these 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 the 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 negatively affect the intestinal microflora, reduce the protective properties of the body. If an excessive amount of sugar and carbohydrates enters the body, it causes glucose spikes 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 that case, it requires a complex effect on the root cause, which caused the diabetes. Patients are often prescribed hormonal drugs: courses or regularly. It is also important to eliminate the source of stress, normalize sleep. It is important to ensure sufficient intake of iodine, selenium, zinc and iron to ensure the normal functioning of the endocrine glands.
Infectious diseases
The manifestation of diabetes mellitus is often seen with a long-term progressive infectious disease:
- herpes
- viral hepatitis
- herpes
Chronic infection depletes the body's defenses, making it more susceptible to other illnesses. The primary manifestation of hepatitis can become a symptom of a viral illness. In this case, it is important to work with the root cause - the source of infection and reduce the viral load in the body. To do this, use antiviral drugs, immunostimulants, drugs for symptomatic correction.
Medicines
Certain groups of drugs can also cause diabetes to manifest in the elderly or middle-aged.
The risk group includes people who take:
- synthetic corticosteroids
- diuretic drugs
- cytostatics
Medicines can only be taken when prescribed by a doctor. If medications cause insulin resistance with an increased risk of developing diabetes, it is advisable to reconsider the consultation, adjust the dose, and choose alternative means to replace it. It is impossible to prescribe or stop taking drugs on your own, as this can worsen the course of the underlying disease, for the treatment of which the described drugs were recommended.
Chronic insufficiency of the adrenal cortex
Adrenal insufficiency often leads to the development of diabetes. It occurs in patients with insufficient hormone secretion from the adrenal glands. Characteristic symptoms: bronze pigmentation of the skin, mucous membranes, feeling of weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, impaired consciousness. Accompanied by fluid and electrolyte disorders, dysfunction of the cardiovascular system. Treatment is carried out in a complex way: the root cause is eliminated, corticosteroids, symptomatic drugs are used.
Possible complications
The lack of timely treatment of diabetes mellitus is fraught with such complications:
- Diabetic angiopathy - increased vascular permeability, increased risk of thrombosis, cardiovascular diseases.
- Diabetic foot - occurs against the background of circulatory disorders in the lower extremities.
- Trophic ulcers on 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, high-quality medical care.
- Diabetic nephropathy, in which it impairs the blood supply to the vessels of the kidneys and increases the likelihood 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 appropriate measures are not taken, the patient begins to feel unwell, the vomit smells of acetone. Relieves pain in the abdomen, lowers blood pressure. To avoid dangerous complications, it is important to start treatment for insulin resistance/diabetes mellitus in a timely manner and to constantly monitor blood glucose levels. It is impossible to select drugs on your own, as they may not have the proper therapeutic result and cause complications.
Which doctor to contact
At the first symptoms of diabetes, it is recommended to consult an endocrinologist. The doctor will carry out a comprehensive diagnosis using laboratory and instrumental techniques, will determine the degree of progression of the disorder. In the future, consultations from other doctors may be necessary: a cardiologist, a nutritionist, an oncologist, a gynecologist. It is important to follow all doctors' instructions and avoid self-medication.
Diagnosis
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 test.
To determine the sugar in the urine, special test strips are used. For the timely detection of complications of diabetes mellitus, it is recommended to carry out an ultrasound examination of the kidneys, rheovasography of the extremities, and also to check the structural and functional state of the brain.
Treatment
The treatment protocol is selected for each patient individually. At the same time, age, concomitant chronic and somatic diseases are taken into account. Therapy is carried out for life, the patient must be under the constant supervision of an endocrinologist. In the first stage, they review the diet, reduce the number of meals.
The ideal is two meals a day, without snacks. Breakfast with healthy fats, proteins and carbohydrates can be obtained from vegetables. Bakery products, sources of sugar and other simple carbohydrates are completely removed from the diet. The portions are small, they provide satiety due to the balanced composition and the presence of fat.
Drug correction involves the use of such groups of drugs:
- hypoglycemic agents
- drugs to restore blood circulation and microcirculation
- high blood pressure medications (if indicated)
The treatment regimen is selected individually and often supplemented with vitamin and mineral complexes, amino acids: taurine, glycine. Medications will not help to completely eliminate the problem. The patient is obliged to take a responsible attitude towards correcting the lifestyle and complying with all the doctor's recommendations.
Patients with diabetes are shown moderate physical activity. This prevents the 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. It is recommended that the volume of loads be discussed with the doctor in advance.
Prevention
To prevent diabetes, it is important to monitor the diet, normalize body weight, eliminate the source of stress, restore the mode of work, rest and sleep. It is important to review the 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 cool dark room.
Special attention is paid to physical activity: daily walking outdoors, running, brisk walking, swimming and any other type of physical activity that is suitable and feasible. Physical inactivity is unacceptable and can worsen the course of insulin resistance. Breathing practices are helpful: pranayama, Buteyko breathing, to ensure sufficient 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 violation, refuse self-treatment and look for an experienced endocrinologist.
The prognosis for patients who promptly sought medical help and revised their lifestyle is mostly favorable. They can live long, quality lives without facing the dangerous complications of the disease. Lack of therapy leads to a reduction in life expectancy and acute/chronic complications.