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, about 347 million people worldwide suffer from pathology. In the past two decades, the number of cases has increased 10 times. If detected in the early stages, serious complications can be avoided. Therefore, it is important to know how diabetes manifests.
Causes of diabetes and its types
Diabetes mellitus is a disease characterized by a disorder of metabolism in the body. It is associated with insufficient production of the hormone insulin by the pancreas. Its deficiency leads to the accumulation of sugar in the body.
Normally, it should be processed into glucose due to the action of insulin. This process is accompanied by malaise and other symptoms. Sugar itself is excreted in large quantities in the urine, which leads to gradual dehydration and a constant feeling of thirst.
The exact causes of the disease have not been studied so far. However, doctors identify a group of factors that increase the risk of its occurrence.
- hereditary predisposition.
- Overweight.
- Pathologies of the pancreas (cancer, pancreatitis).
- Exposure to viruses (flu, rubella and smallpox are especially dangerous).
- Frequent stress.
- Advanced age.
The classical classification of diseases predicts the distribution of two forms: type 1 diabetes and type 2. The first option is considered the most dangerous and lifelong. In order to maintain a normal state of the body, it is necessary to constantly inject insulin. In another species, the body produces this hormone, but not in the amount needed.
There are also the following types of diabetes: gestational, insipidus, steroid, latent, autoimmune, bronze. Each of the forms is characterized by its own clinical picture and flow characteristics.
How does type 1 and type 2 diabetes manifest?
Diabetes is an insidious disease. A person may not be aware of health problems for many years until they fall into a hyperglycemic coma. Therefore, it is important to know the main manifestations of the pathology, taking into account its diversity.
Table 1. Manifestation of type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus
> zxtable border = "1" cellpadding = "0" >- Intense and constant thirst that is difficult to quench with water. The patient may also experience dry mouth and throat. You only need to drink a glass of water, because the urge to urinate immediately appears.
- Fast weight loss. You can lose 11 kg in a month.
- Increased appetite. Due to hormonal disorders, the metabolism of water and salt is disturbed, and nutrients are difficult to digest.
- Frequent urge to urinate. Fluid simply does not stay in the body. The patient can consume more than 2 liters of water a day, and the number of urges to the toilet can increase up to 10 times.
- Fast fatigue, reduced performance. These symptoms are also characteristic of other diseases. Therefore, it is wrong to judge diabetes only by them.
- Reduced temperature. Many mistakenly believe that only fever indicates health problems. However, in diabetes, its reduction is possible due to the slowing down of all metabolic processes.
- Itchy skin. Dehydrated skin can develop cracks.
- Visual impairment.
- Numbness of the lower extremities. This is a rather indicative symptom, which cannot be ignored. After that, it can turn into gangrene due to the fact that the peripheral nervous system suffers.
- Bad breath, reminiscent of acetone. Acetone is a protein breakdown product that must be utilized in a healthy body. In the case of diabetes, the substance remains, gradually poisoning all the organs.
- Decreased sex drive. Any hormonal disorder is accompanied by a worsening of libido.
- Abundant urination.
- Strong thirst.
- Itchy skin.
- Weight gain in the background of hormonal disorders.
- development of osteoporosis.
- Muscular hypotension. Muscle weakness is caused by a disorder of the peripheral nervous system.
The clinical picture may vary slightly depending on the patient's age and gender.
Signs of diabetes in children
It is easy to recognize pathology in children. It is important to do this in time to avoid developing diabetic coma. It occurs spontaneously and can be fatal if the child is not treated.
The first signs of diabetes in children are:
- Often large amounts of urination. If the baby continues to go to the potty, it is easy to recognize this symptom. Problems with urination occur mostly at night. Parents often have to change diapers and bedding.
- The child is constantly thirsty. If diabetes is suspected, compotes and juices should be replaced with plain water. If the thirst does not decrease in this case, consult a doctor.
- Inconsistency in weight and amount of food consumed. The child eats a lot, but does not get better. Another option is possible: the child eats little, but his body weight grows rapidly.
In addition to these symptoms, diabetes can be manifested by itching, constant fatigue even after rest and dry mouth.
Onset 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 the signs. This happens due to frequent urination. The concentration of sugar in the urine is quite high, which leads to irritation of the tissues of the organs and the skin itself.
Diabetes disorders in women
In the fairer sex, the onset of the disease manifests itself as intense thirst, drowsiness and itching. However, the pathological process often affects the reproductive system, which is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Violation of the menstrual cycle. Bloody discharge may be completely absent for several months and then appear in the form of clots.
- The appearance of ulcers on the mammary glands. They are often mistaken for allergies, but the ongoing treatment does not bring positive results.
- 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 up to 10 kg of weight. On the other hand, by sticking to a strict diet, some, on the contrary, gain weight. Usually, such a violation is perceived as a malfunction in the hormonal system. Only after taking the tests are serious health problems revealed.
Symptoms of gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes develops exclusively in pregnant women. No special external characteristics. It is usually detected during routine examinations, which are regularly prescribed to pregnant women. The basis for the diagnosis are the results of blood and urine tests.
The external manifestations of the disease are practically indistinguishable from those in 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.
The gestational form of the disease does not pose a direct threat to the woman and the fetus within the uterus. However, it can negatively affect her general condition, the course of pregnancy. High glucose levels mean the birth of a child with a high weight (4 kg or more).
This is often considered a prerequisite for obesity and the onset of diabetes directly in a child. In some cases, there is a slight delay in development. Sometimes jaundice, hypoglycemia is diagnosed.
What to do if you have symptoms of diabetes?
If you suspect diabetes, you should not self-medicate or ignore the initial symptoms. This disease is the responsibility of an endocrinologist. However, the therapist can make a diagnosis.
To determine the presence of a pathological process, you must in any case seek medical help. The specialist will first listen to the patient's complaints, study his anamnesis and perform a physical examination. Only on the basis of these measures can a preliminary diagnosis be made. To confirm this, you will need to undergo a comprehensive examination.
Diagnosis of the disease
Any research on suspected diabetes aims to determine blood glucose levels.
Patients are usually offered to take a blood sugar test. You should not eat for 8-12 hours before giving birth. Alcohol is also prohibited. It is better to quit smoking. Normally, the glucose indicator should be 5. 5 mmol per liter. If this parameter is 7 units or more, an additional overview is assigned.
The patient is required to undergo a glucose tolerance test. The analysis consists of several parts. First, the patient takes a standard fasting blood test. Then, in a medical institution, drink a glass of water with sugar (75 g of substance per 200 ml of water). After 2 hours, the blood test is done again.
In a healthy person, 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 these parameters are slightly exceeded (by several tens), the doctor will make a conclusion about the pre-diabetic condition. Indicators that are much higher than these figures already indicate diabetes.
Some are prescribed glycated hemoglobin analysis. You can use it to monitor your blood glucose level over the past 3 months. Normally, this figure should be less than 5, 7%. With values ranging from 5. 7-6. 4%, there is a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
In that case, the patient should talk to the doctor about measures to prevent the disease. When the level of glycated hemoglobin is higher than 6. 5%, diabetes is likely. However, confirmation by additional tests is required.
Possible complications
The disease itself does not pose a threat to human life, but is subject to the recommendations of doctors. Its complications are dangerous. The most common of these are:
- neuropathy. The pathology is manifested by burning, severe pain and numbness in the lower extremities. It develops due to metabolic disorders in the central nervous system. Treatment involves taking medications with thioctic acid. By timely seeking medical help, the patient manages to restore nerve tissue.
- diabetic coma. Her symptoms are growing rapidly. Therefore, the patient is immediately hospitalized. At the beginning, he may complain of darkening in the eyes, mental retardation. There are several variants 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.
- Trophic ulcers. This is a serious pathology that significantly impairs the quality of human life. If therapy is not started on time, trophic ulcers can begin to fester.
Diabetes can also lead to other health problems. They are manifested in the form of disorders in the work of various organ systems (liver, kidneys, organs of sight).
Diabetes prevention
First of all, it should be noted that the occurrence of type 1 diabetes is difficult to predict. The disease is predominantly hereditary. Different viruses increase the probability of its development.
Type 2 diabetes is much easier to prevent. Its appearance directly depends on the quality of human life. Addictions, inactive lifestyle, alcohol abuse - all these factors can cause disease. Therefore, doctors give the following recommendations for its prevention:
- Control your weight (try to eat properly and balanced).
- Monitor blood pressure and, if necessary, visit a doctor for treatment.
- Do challenging sports.
- Treat diseases, especially those related to the endocrine system, in a timely manner.
If you follow these simple guidelines, you can protect yourself from diabetes. A healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition are the key to the full functioning of the body.
Diabetes mellitus is a serious disease that usually requires a lifetime of insulin intake. If you neglect its treatment, the pathological process can become more complex and lead to quite unpleasant consequences.
Diabetic coma, trophic ulcers on the lower extremities and neuropathy should be mentioned among the latter. To protect yourself from such problems, it is important to know the initial symptoms of the disease, and if they appear, consult a doctor immediately. After passing the examination, which mainly consists of assessing the parameters of blood glucose, the specialist will be able to choose the therapy.