How diabetes manifests itself, its causes and methods of prevention

Diabetes mellitus is considered to be the most common endocrine disease. Improper diet, lack of physical activity and hereditary predisposition - these factors increase the risk of its occurrence. Today, approximately 347 million people worldwide suffer from pathology. Over the past two decades, the number of cases has increased 10 -fold. If it is detected at an early stage, serious complications can be avoided. Therefore, it is important to know how diabetes manifests itself.

Causes of diabetes and its types

Diabetes mellitus is a disease characterized by disturbances in the body’s metabolism. It is associated with insufficient production of the hormone insulin by the pancreas. Its deficiency leads to the accumulation of sugar in the body.

Usually, it needs to be processed into glucose due to the action of insulin. This process is accompanied by malaise and other symptoms. The sugar itself is excreted in large amounts with the urine, which leads to gradual dehydration and an ever-haunting feeling of thirst.

The exact cause of the disease has not been studied so far. However, doctors identify a group of factors that increase the risk of its occurrence.

1. hereditary tendencies.
2. Overweight.
3. Pathology of the pancreas (cancer, pancreatitis).
4. Exposure to viruses (influenza, rubella and smallpox are very dangerous).
5. Frequent stress.
6. Old age.

The classical classification of the disease provides for the provision of two forms: type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The first option is considered the most dangerous and lifelong. To maintain the normal state of the body, it is necessary to always inject insulin intramuscularly. In the second type, the body produces this hormone, but not in the required amount.

There are also the following types of diabetes: gestational, insipidus, steroidal, latent, autoimmune, bronze. Each form is characterized by its own clinical picture and course characteristics.

How are type 1 and type 2 diabetes real?

Diabetes is a dangerous disease. A person may not be aware of a health problem for years until he or she experiences a hyperglycemic coma. Therefore, it is important to know the main manifestations of the pathology, taking into account its diversity.

Table 1. Manifestations of type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus

kind of diabetes	Clinical picture
Type 1 diabetes	Strong and persistent thirst, difficult to quench with water. Patients may also experience dryness in the mouth and throat. One only needs to drink a glass of water, because the urge to urinate immediately appears. Rapid weight loss. In a month, you can lose 11 kg. Increased appetite. Due to hormonal disorders, water salt metabolism is disrupted, nutrients are difficult to digest. Frequency of urge to urinate. Fluid just doesn’t stay in the body. A patient can take more than 2 liters of water per day, and the number of urges to the toilet can increase up to 10 -fold. Rapid fatigue, decreased performance. These symptoms are also characteristic of other diseases. Therefore, it is wrong to assess diabetes only by them. The temperature decreases. Many mistakenly believe that only high temperatures indicate health problems. However, in diabetes, its decline may be due to the slowdown of all metabolic processes. Itchy skin. Dehydrated skin may experience cracks. Visual impairment. Numbness in the lower legs. These are quite indicative symptoms, which should not be ignored. After that, it can turn into gangrene due to the fact that the peripheral nervous system suffers. The breath smelled, reminiscent of acetone. Acetone is a protein breakdown product that must be used in a healthy body. In the case of diabetes, the substance remains, gradually poisoning all organs. Decreased sexual desire. Any hormonal disturbance is accompanied by a decline in libido.
Type 2 diabetes	Pee a lot. strong thirst. Itchy skin. Weight gain against the background of hormonal disorders. development of osteoporosis. Muscle hypotension. Muscle weakness occurs as a result of disorders of the peripheral nervous system.

The clinical picture may differ slightly depending on the age of the patient and his or her gender.

Signs of the onset of diabetes in children

Recognizing pathology in children is easy. It is important to do this in a timely manner to prevent the development of a diabetic coma. It occurs spontaneously and can be fatal if the child is not given medical treatment.

The early signs of diabetes in children are:

1. Frequent and abundant urination. If the baby still goes to the potty, it is easy to identify these symptoms. Problems with urination occur mainly at night. Parents often have to change diapers and bedding.
2. The child is always thirsty. If diabetes is suspected, compote and juice should be replaced with plain water. If in this case the thirst does not decrease, you should see a doctor.
3. Inconsistency in weight and amount of food consumed. The child ate a lot, but did not get better. Another option is also possible: the child eats little, but his weight is growing rapidly.

In addition to these symptoms, diabetes can be manifested by itching, persistent fatigue even after rest, and dry mouth.

The emergence of diabetes in men

The clinical picture of the disease in men does not differ from the general one. However, inflammation of the foreskin, the entire urethra, can be added to all signs. This happens because of frequent urination. The concentration of sugar in the urine is quite high, which involves irritation to the tissues of the organs and the foreskin itself.

Diabetic disorders in women

In the fair sex, the onset of the disease manifests itself as intense thirst, drowsiness, and pruritus. However, pathological processes often affect the reproductive system, which is accompanied by the following symptoms:

1. Violation of the menstrual cycle. Bloody discharge may not be fully present for several months, and then appear in the form of clots.
2. The appearance of ulcers on the mammary glands. They are often mistaken for allergies, but continued treatment does not bring positive results.
3. Weight loss or gain for no apparent reason.

The latter symptom is more common in women than others. With a high -calorie diet, patients can lose weight up to 10 kg. On the other hand, while adhering to a strict diet, some, on the other hand, gain weight. Usually such violations are considered as damage in the hormonal system. Only after passing the test, serious health problems were revealed.

Symptoms of diabetes during pregnancy

Gestational diabetes develops exclusively in pregnant women. It has no special external features. It is usually detected during routine checkups, which are regularly assigned to women in position. The basis for diagnosis is the results of blood and urine tests.

The external manifestations of the disease are practically no different from type 1 and type 2 diabetes. We are talking about nausea, weakness, constant thirst. These symptoms do not occur individually and do not indicate toxicosis. They develop mainly in the second and third trimesters.

This form of pregnancy disease does not pose a direct threat to the woman and the fetus in the womb. However, it can negatively affect general well -being, the course of pregnancy. High glucose levels require the birth of a child with a high body weight (from 4 kg or more).

Often this is considered a prerequisite for obesity and the onset of diabetes directly in children. In some cases, there is a slight delay in development. Sometimes diagnosed with jaundice, hypoglycemia.

What to do if you have symptoms of diabetes?

If you suspect diabetes, you cannot self -medicate or ignore the early symptoms. The disease is within the competence of endocrinologists. However, a therapist can make a diagnosis.

To determine the presence of pathological processes, in any case, you need to seek medical help. The specialist will first listen to the patient’s complaints, review his or her medical history, and conduct a physical examination. Only on the basis of these measures can an initial diagnosis be made. To confirm it, you need to undergo a comprehensive examination.

Diagnosis of the disease

Any research for suspected diabetes aims to determine blood glucose levels.

Often, patients are offered to take a blood test for sugar. Before giving birth, you should not eat for 8-12 hours. Alcohol is also prohibited. Better quit smoking. Typically, the glucose indicator should be 5. 5 mmol per liter. If this parameter is 7 units or more, additional examinations are given.

Patients were asked to undergo a glucose tolerance test. The analysis consists of several parts. First, the patient takes a standard fasting blood test. Then, at a medical facility, he drank a glass of water with sugar (75 g of substance per 200 ml of water). After 2 hours, he took the blood test again.

In healthy people, the rate after the first study is up to 5. 5 mmol per liter, and after the second - up to 7. 8 mmol per liter. If this parameter is exceeded slightly (by a few tenths), the doctor will draw conclusions about the pre-diabetic condition. Indicators much higher than this figure already indicate diabetes.

Some prescribed analysis for glycated hemoglobin. With it, you can keep track of the state of glucose in the blood over the last 3 months. Typically, this figure should be less than 5. 7%. With values in the range 5. 7-6. 4%, there is a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

In this case, the patient should discuss with the doctor the measures to prevent the disease. When the level of hemoglobin is more than 6. 5%, diabetes is more likely. However, confirmation through additional testing is required.

Possible Complications

The disease itself does not pose a threat to human life, but is subject to the recommendation of a doctor. The complications are dangerous. Among them, the following are the most common:

1. Neuropathy. Pathology is indicated by burning, severe pain and numbness in the lower leg area. It develops as a result of metabolic disorders in the central nervous system. Treatment involves taking medication with thioctic acid. By seeking timely medical help, patients successfully recover nerve tissue.
2. diabetic coma. The symptoms develop rapidly. Therefore, the patient was immediately admitted to the hospital. At first, she may complain of eyes becoming dark, mentally retarded. There are several types of this condition, but ketoacidosis is the most common. It is characterized by the accumulation of toxins in the body, which quickly destroy nerve cells.
3. Trophic ulcers. This is a serious pathology that significantly affects the quality of human life. If therapy is not started on time, trophic ulcers may begin to fester.

Diabetes can also lead to other health problems. They manifest themselves in the form of dysfunction of various organ systems (liver, kidneys, organs of vision).

Diabetes prevention

First of all, it should be noted that the appearance of type 1 diabetes is difficult to predict. The disease is mostly inherited. Various viruses increase the likelihood of its development.

Type 2 diabetes is easier to prevent. Its occurrence directly depends on the quality of human life. Addiction, inactive lifestyle, alcohol abuse - all these factors can trigger this disease. Therefore, doctors give the following recommendations for its prevention:

1. Control your weight (try to eat properly and balanced).
2. Monitor your blood pressure and, if necessary, see a doctor for treatment.
3. Engage in challenging sports.
4. Treat diseases in a timely manner, especially those related to the endocrine system.

If you follow these simple guidelines, you can protect yourself from diabetes. A healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition are the keys to full body function.

Diabetes mellitus is a serious disease that mostly requires lifelong insulin intake. If you neglect its treatment, the pathological process can become more complicated and lead to rather unpleasant consequences.

Among the latter, diabetic coma, trophic ulcers on the lower limbs, and neuropathy should be noted. To protect yourself from such problems, it is important to know the early symptoms of the disease, and if they appear, see a doctor immediately. After passing the examination, which mostly consists of assessing blood glucose parameters, the specialist will be able to choose a therapy.