Dorothy FarrarDiabetes
Diabetes mellitus , also known as diabetes or sugar disease for short , is a metabolic disease characterized by an elevated blood sugar level . There are basically two types of this disease: type I diabetes and type II diabetes. A special form is what is known as gestational diabetes. While type I tends to affect young people, older patients are more likely to develop type II diabetes.
What is Type I Diabetes?
Diabetes ( type 1 diabetes mellitus ) is based on a hormonal disorder in the regulation of the blood sugar level . It can be congenital or acquired over the course of life. This disease occurs in two forms (types I and II). Both are characterized by elevated blood sugar due to the lack of insulin.
Type I diabetes occurs primarily in children and adolescents. Here the causes can be found in a mostly severe damage to the pancreas, so that the required insulin has to be administered by injection.
In this regard, at times sufferers must learn to inject themselves with insulin. Spraying must be carried out regularly according to a precise schedule. Eating should also happen at set times so that the energy requirement is constantly covered.
Type I diabetes, which only affects about five percent of diabetics, usually occurs when certain cells in the pancreas are destroyed. These produce the vital hormone insulin; this normally ensures that the sugar ingested through food reaches the cells and is processed there.
If there is not enough insulin, the blood sugar level rises accordingly. But hereditary factors and viral infections can also be a cause of type I diabetes. Typical symptoms that occur particularly with type I diabetes are excessive thirst, increased urination and cravings.
What is Type II Diabetes?
In type 2 diabetes mellitus , the transport of blood sugar into the cells (eg liver, muscles) is disrupted due to the lack of insulin. This form often occurs in advanced age and mostly in overweight people.In these people, more insulin is needed to keep blood sugar levels constant than the pancreas produces. As a result, the lack of insulin is even more pronounced in them and blood sugar regulation becomes even more problematic.
In type II diabetes, on the other hand, enough insulin is released, but this cannot be processed properly by the cells and the blood sugar level also rises. In many cases, this insulin resistance is due to the fact that the body is fed an excess of food.
Although this form of diabetes mainly affects older people, children and adolescents can also suffer from this form of diabetes. This is mainly due to poor eating habits – so it is not surprising that a particularly large number of people suffer from this form of diabetes, especially in Europe.
causes
Diabetes is due to hormonal imbalances in blood sugar levels. As a result of insufficient or complete failure of insulin production in the pancreas, the glucose content of the blood is constantly too high. As a result, glucagon and adrenaline gain in importance and thus promote the high glucose load in our body fluids.
The glucose present in the blood is no longer transported to the liver and muscle cells and is therefore not converted into the storage form glycogen in them. Insulin deficiency also increases the breakdown of glycogen in the cells and the formation of new glucose from fat and protein.
Due to the lack of glucose in the cells, the energy requirement is increasingly covered by the breakdown of fat and protein. The blood sugar level rises enormously.
Some of the sugar is excreted in the urine via the kidneys. A large amount of urine is formed (diabetes) that tastes sweet (mellitus).
The greatly increased protein and fat breakdown and the increased glucose level in the blood can cause profound metabolic disorders. Appropriate laboratory tests of blood and urine can be used to determine whether diabetes is present.
When to the doctor?
Diabetes is one of the most underestimated chronic diseases. This is mainly due to the fact that the most serious consequences of this disease only appear after a longer period of time. Before that, the disease often remains hidden. However, the consequences that occur are often irreversible and involve major cuts. It is therefore advisable to consult a doctor in good time if you suspect diabetes.
The decision to see a doctor should always be based on a comprehensive risk assessment. Due to the fact that diabetes can be treated very well with early therapy, the risk assessment should always be in favor of a doctor’s visit. A doctor’s visit is essential, especially when specific symptoms such as sudden weight loss , excessive urination , exhaustion, massive thirst and unexpected erection problems occur.
It is sufficient to first consult the general practitioner. With this there is usually a closer doctor-patient relationship. In addition, he is also able to carry out a diabetes test, with which a reliable initial diagnosis can be made. After making an initial diagnosis, the family doctor will refer you to other places. So it can make sense to involve a diabetologist. In addition, most health insurance companies give seminars that teach how to deal with the disease and thereby make everyday life easier.
symptoms and course
Sugar disease (diabetes) manifests itself in an elevated blood sugar level and in an increase in the amount of urine. The body loses a lot of liquid, which is also reflected in an excessive feeling of thirst and encourages constant drinking. Another consequence is weight loss due to the breakdown of fat and protein in the tissues. There are signs of fatigue, a drop in performance and a reduced immune response to infectious diseases.
Typical symptoms of diabetes:
consequences
- Diabetic Polyneuropathy
Diagnose
In order to avoid organ damage and long-term damage, it is crucial in both types of diabetes, type 1 and 2, that a diagnosis is made as early as possible. The symptoms in juvenile diabetes mellitus are often more dramatic than in adult-onset diabetes, which is why the diagnosis is usually made earlier. Many older people, on the other hand, sometimes do not even know that they suffer from diabetes.
The suspected diagnosis of prediabetes or manifest diabetes mellitus can often be made in the doctor’s office based on the main symptoms polyuria and polydipsia. This is understood as an urge to urinate with increased urination with a simultaneous permanent feeling of thirst. This usually large loss of urine is also what gave the diabetes its name, because diabetes mellitus means sweet flow.
Blood and urine tests are always part of the diagnostic criteria. Elevated glucose levels can be detected in both body fluids in diabetes mellitus. Due to the filtration activity of the kidneys, blood sugar can only pass into the urine from a threshold of 180 milligrams per milliliter of blood, this is also referred to as the so-called kidney threshold.
The presence of glucose in the urine is therefore always to be regarded as pathological in the sense of manifest diabetes mellitus. To diagnose diabetes precursors, the so-called oral glucose tolerance test is used. In addition, every newly diagnosed diabetic is subjected to an extended diagnosis with regard to any late damage that may already be present. This includes, for example, the analysis of the nerve conduction speed or the fundus of the eye.
complications
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can occur as an acute complication of diabetes. The blood sugar drops so much that the cells no longer have enough energy available. Typical symptoms of low blood sugar in diabetics are headaches, paleness, tremors, sweating, tingling feelings, palpitations , dizziness and weak knees. Affected people often feel ravenous hunger. Psychologically, hypoglycaemia often leads to feelings of anxiety, inner tension and/or nervousness. Severe hypoglycaemia can also trigger seizures. The person may also become unconscious.
The treatment for hypoglycaemia is to take glucose. For example, the person may eat something, take a glucose pill, or get an injection from a doctor or nurse. In addition, with type 2 diabetes, a sharp rise in blood sugar levels is possible, which in extreme cases leads to a diabetic coma. The diabetic coma may announce itself with nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Clouding of consciousness or loss of consciousness are also serious signs. Breath may smell of acetone.
Without treatment or if blood sugar is poorly controlled, other consequences of diabetes are possible in addition to these acute complications. They often only develop after several years of illness. This includes diabetic retinopathy – an eye disease that can cause blindness in diabetics. Other complications include: diabetic foot, diabetic nephropathy (kidney disorder), possible kidney failure, diabetic (poly)neuropathy (nerve damage) and diabetic angiopathy (vascular disease).
treatment and therapy
The treatment of diabetes mellitus aims to improve the quality of life of those affected. It depends on the type of illness. A distinction must be made here between type I and II. With the right treatment, the blood sugar level can be controlled well. Blood sugar must be monitored consistently. This is the only way to prevent possible secondary diseases or late damage. Everyone affected can contribute to the success of the treatment. The disease cannot be cured, but patients can live without major restrictions.
The different treatment goals are mutually agreed between the patient and the doctor. In type 1 diabetes mellitus there is an absolute insulin deficiency. Since insulin is necessary for humans, it must be injected throughout life. Two types of insulin are available for treatment, namely regular insulin and insulin analogues. They differ in the amino acids . In type 1, treatment with medication is pointless. The cells have lost their function and do not accept the specific drugs.
There are various treatment options for type 2. This type is caused by an unhealthy diet of the affected person. If the disease is detected in time, the disturbed glucose metabolism can be normalized without medication. This includes changing old habits. The affected person must lose excess weight, exercise and eat a balanced diet. If these measures are not sufficient, additional medications are used. If the tablets are no longer sufficient, insulin therapy is required. Type 2 treatment is divided into four stages. Affected people have to go to the doctor regularly to monitor the progress of the disease.
prevention
The best way to prevent diabetes is to lead a healthy lifestyle . While type I patients usually cannot do without insulin injections, type II patients often still have the option of stopping the progression of the disease with a healthy lifestyle.A balanced diet and sufficient exercise work wonders here. Even when the disease has progressed, medication often helps.
Being overweight is one of the biggest risk factors for diabetes – therefore you should avoid high-fat food as much as possible and eat mainly fruit, vegetables and whole grain products.
However, anyone can be affected by this disease; it is not uncommon for genes to also play a role. It is also important to accept the disease and live with it as much as possible. Of course, you have to follow a few rules – you have to pay particular attention to nutrition .
The blood sugar level must also be checked regularly, preferably daily. There are special measuring devices on the market for this purpose.
If you don’t pay attention to a balanced blood sugar level, diabetes can, in the worst case, lead to further complications. Cardiovascular diseases , such as circulatory disorders and, in the further course, a heart attack or strokes can also be the result, as can erectile dysfunction or kidney dysfunction.
Diabetes is not curable, but with the right and consistent treatment, you can lead a symptom-free life. The insulin usually has to be injected for life.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.