Deficiency of the hormone insulin is a disease that has been known to mankind since ancient times, but despite this and the speed of development of medical technologies, obtaining new knowledge about the disease is extremely difficult to identify it in the early stages. Many patients are not even aware of the presence of diabetes mellitus, attributing 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 timely treatment.
What is diabetes mellitus?
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic endocrinological disease that develops as a result of a lack of insulin. A hormone synthesized by the pancreas is involved in the breakdown of sugar and the transport of glucose through the blood to organ tissues to provide the body with additional energy. In the case of a lack of insulin, the level of sugar rises significantly, which negatively affects the entire body.
Reasons for the development of the disease
The disease occurs most often in the presence of the following causes or prerequisites:
- Hereditary predisposition, in particular, if the father suffers from diabetes, the likelihood 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 excess weight, and with the second and subsequent degrees of obesity, the likelihood of developing diabetes mellitus increases by 80%.
- Lack of physical activity, low human activity.
- Frequent experiences of stressful situations or prolonged depression. A severe shock or nervous breakdown can also provoke a disease.
- 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, influenza, rubella).
Symptoms of the disease
Warning signals that are evidence of the presence of the disease include:
- Constant feeling of thirst, which does not disappear even after heavy drinking.
- Frequent urination, especially at night. This causes some discomfort and inconvenience, violates the established way of life.
- Drops of urine remain on the linen, which, when dried, resemble traces of dried starch (white and dense spots).
- The person complains of fatigue and drowsiness.
- Vision is sharply reduced, all objects are seen blurry.
- Often accompanied by a sensation of 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 intense in the groin area.
- Sudden weight loss for no other apparent reason.
- Strong hunger that is difficult to satisfy.
It is important to remember that many of the symptoms appear already when there is a deficiency 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 at the initial stage, so 80% of patients are not aware of the presence of the disease.
Types of Diabetes
There are 2 types of diabetes mellitus, which have characteristic differences despite some similarities.
- Type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent) is a disease characterized by the death of pancreatic beta cells, the main role of which is the production of insulin. As a result of this process, a deficiency of the hormone occurs, which provokes diabetes. The causes of the development of the disease include a violation of the immune system, the presence of a viral infection in the human body. As a rule, this type of disease 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, cells of tissues and organs of insulin produced by the pancreas. Due to the body's improper response to the hormone, glucose accumulates in the blood and provokes the occurrence of negative processes in the body. In case of untimely treatment, the production of insulin stops altogether, since an increased level of glucose in the blood adversely affects beta cells and contributes to their destruction.
Diagnosis of diabetes
To diagnose the disease, you must go to the clinic to see an endocrinologist who specializes in this disease. For examination, the following procedures and examinations are carried out:
- Fasting blood test for blood sugar levels. In some cases, when the patient is at risk for the disease, a stress test is performed to determine glucose tolerance.
- Carrying out a urine test for sugar content and determining its level. A urine test for the presence of acetone may also be performed.
- It is also important to conduct an analysis for the installation of glycated hemoglobin, which will help determine the average blood glucose over the past three months.
- It is important to remember that diabetes is a chronic disease that cannot be cured, therefore regular maintenance therapy is required to maintain a normal state.
Treatment of the disease
The main treatment for type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent) is regular insulin injections. Thanks to modern medical instruments, injections have become much easier; insulin pumps and pens are used for this. The dosage of insulin is set individually for each patient and it is not recommended to change it yourself. The amount of insulin depends on the level of sugar in the blood, the presence of other concomitant diseases (for example, obesity), the patient's lifestyle.
In case of incomplete pancreatic insufficiency, the doctor may prescribe medications that can stimulate the production of the hormone in the human body. To eliminate insulin resistance in the body, other groups of medicines can be used that eliminate insulin resistance and help maintain human health. An important factor is the observance of a special diet, in which foods are selected with a minimum content of sugar, carbohydrates, and also stimulating 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:
- Regular checking of blood sugar levels is particularly recommended for those at risk. People over the age of forty should conduct this study regularly, at least twice a year.
- Changing eating habits, switching to a balanced diet with a predominance of healthy foods - low-glucose fruits, vegetables, fish, lean meats. In addition, it is recommended to follow a diet and distribute food intake into three equal meals and several snacks.
- Performing daily simple physical exercises, which will help to normalize weight and reduce the likelihood of developing diabetes mellitus.
- Normalization of weight, which will help reduce the likelihood of developing the disease.