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 it occurring. Today, around 347 million people worldwide suffer from the condition. Over the past two decades, the number of cases has increased 10 times. If it is detected in the early stages, 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 a disturbance 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.

Normally, it should be converted into glucose due to the action of insulin. This process is accompanied by malaise and other symptoms. Sugar itself is excreted in large volumes with urine, which leads to gradual dehydration and a constantly haunting 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 it occurring.

1. hereditary predisposition.
2. Overweight.
3. Disorders of the pancreas (cancer, pancreatitis).
4. Exposure to viruses (particularly dangerous are flu, rubella and smallpox).
5. Frequent stress.
6. Old age.

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

There are also the following types of diabetes: gestational, insipid, steroid, latent, autoimmune, bronze. Each of the forms is characterized by its own clinical picture and course features.

How does type 1 and type 2 diabetes manifest itself?

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 variety.

Table 1. Manifestation of type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus

type of diabetes	Clinical picture
Type 1 diabetes	Intense and constant thirst, difficult to quench with water. The patient may also experience dry mouth and throat. It is enough to drink a glass of water, as the urge to urinate immediately appears. Rapid weight loss. In one month you can lose 11 kg. Increased appetite. Due to hormonal disorders, the metabolism of water salt is disturbed, nutrients are difficult to digest. Frequent need to urinate. The fluid simply does not stay in the body. A patient can consume more than 2 liters of water per day, and the number of toilet pulses can increase up to 10 times. Quick fatigue, reduced performance. These symptoms are also characteristic of other diseases. Therefore, it is wrong to judge diabetes by them alone. Decrease in temperature. Many mistakenly believe that only a high temperature indicates health problems. However, in diabetes, its decrease is possible due to the slowdown of all metabolic processes. Itchy skin. Dehydrated skin can develop cracking. Visual impairment. Numbness of the lower limbs. This is a rather indicative symptom, which cannot be ignored. Later, it can turn into gangrene due to the fact that the peripheral nervous system suffers. Halitosis, which resembles acetone. Acetone is a breakdown product of proteins 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 deterioration in libido.
Type 2 diabetes	Profuse urination. Strong thirst. Itchy skin. Weight gain against the background of hormonal disorders. development of osteoporosis. Muscle hypotension. Muscle weakness occurs due to disruption of the peripheral nervous system.

The clinical picture may vary slightly depending on the patient's age and gender.

Signs of the onset of diabetes in children

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

The first signs of diabetes in children are:

1. Frequent and profuse urination. If the baby still goes on the plate, it is easy to identify this symptom. Problems with urination mostly occur at night. Parents often have to change diapers and bedding.
2. The child is constantly thirsty. If diabetes is suspected, compotes and juices 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 eats a lot, but does not get better. Another option is also possible - the child eats little, but his body weight is growing rapidly.

In addition to these symptoms, diabetes can manifest itself with itching, constant fatigue even after rest and dry mouth.

The 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 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 organ and the foreskin itself.

Disorders of diabetes in women

In the fair sex, the onset of the disease is manifested by intense thirst, drowsiness and itching. However, the pathological process often affects the reproductive system, which is accompanied by the following symptoms:

1. Violation of the menstrual cycle. Bloody discharge can be completely absent 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 ongoing treatment does not bring positive results.
3. Weight loss or weight 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, while adhering 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 passing the tests are serious health problems revealed.

Symptoms of gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes develops exclusively in pregnant women. It has no specific external characteristics. It is usually detected during routine exams, which are regularly prescribed for women in position. The basis for the diagnosis are the results of blood and urine tests.

The external manifestations of the disease practically do not differ from those of 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 mainly develop in the second and third trimesters.

The gestational form of the disease does not pose a direct threat to the woman and the fetus inside the uterus. However, it can adversely affect her general well-being, the course of pregnancy. High glucose levels result in the birth of a child with a high weight (from 4 kg or more).

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

What to do if you have diabetes symptoms?

If you suspect diabetes, you shouldn't self-medicate or ignore the initial symptoms. This disease is the responsibility of an endocrinologist. However, a therapist can make a diagnosis.

To determine the presence of a pathological process, in any case, it is necessary to consult a doctor. The specialist will first listen to the patient's complaints, study his medical history and conduct 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 full examination.

Diagnosis of the disease

Any research for suspected diabetes aims at determining the level of glucose in the blood.

Most often, patients are offered to take a blood test for sugar. Before delivery, you can not eat for 8-12 hours. Alcohol is also banned. Better to quit smoking. Normally, the glucose indicator should be 5. 5 mmol per liter. If this parameter is equal to or greater than 7 units, an additional exam is assigned.

The patient is asked to undergo a glucose tolerance test. The analysis consists of several parts. First, the patient does a standard fasting blood test. Then, in a medical facility, he drinks a glass of water with sugar (75 g of substance per 200 ml of water). After 2 hours, he takes a blood test 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 a few tenths), the doctor will draw a conclusion about the pre-diabetic condition. Indicators much higher than these figures already indicate diabetes.

Some are prescribed a test for glycated hemoglobin. With it, you can monitor your blood glucose status for the past 3 months. Normally, this figure should be less than 5. 7%. With values between 5. 7 and 6. 4%, there is a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

In this case, the patient should discuss with the doctor measures to prevent the disease. When the glycated hemoglobin level is above 6. 5%, diabetes is likely. However, confirmation from further tests is required.

Possible complications

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

1. Neuropathy. Pathology is manifested by burning, severe pain and numbness in the area of the lower limbs. It develops due to metabolic disorders in the central nervous system. Treatment involves taking drugs with thioctic acid. With a timely search for medical help, the patient manages to restore nerve tissue.
2. diabetic coma. His symptoms are growing rapidly. Therefore, the patient is immediately subject to hospitalization. At first, he may complain of darkening of the eyes, mental retardation. There are several varieties 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 impairs the quality of human life. If therapy is not started in time, trophic ulcers can begin to worsen.

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

Diabetes prevention

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

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

1. Control body weight (try to eat right and balanced).
2. Monitor your blood pressure and, if necessary, see a doctor for treatment.
3. Engage in challenging sports.
4. Promptly treat diseases, 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 key to the full functioning of the body.

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

The latter include diabetic coma, trophic ulcerations of the lower limbs and neuropathy. To protect yourself from such problems, it is important to know the initial symptoms of the disease and, if they appear, to immediately consult a doctor. After passing the exam, which mainly consists of evaluating blood glucose parameters, the specialist will be able to choose a therapy.