How diabetes manifests itself, its causes and methods of prevention

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

The 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 transformed into glucose due to the action of insulin. This process is accompanied by malaise and other symptoms. The sugar itself is excreted in large quantities with the urine, which leads to progressive dehydration and a constantly obsessive 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.

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

The classical classification of the disease provides for the assignment of its two forms: type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The first option is considered the most dangerous and lasts a lifetime. 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 quantity.

There are also the following types of diabetes: gestational, tasteless, steroidal, 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?

Diabetes is an insidious disease. A person may be unaware of health issues for many years until they slip 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

type of diabetes	clinical picture
Type 1 diabetes	Intense and constant thirst, difficult to quench with water. The patient may also experience dryness in the mouth and throat. It is enough 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 disturbed, nutrients are difficult to digest. Frequent urge to urinate. The liquid simply does not stay in the body. A patient can consume more than 2 liters of water per day, and the number of urges to go to the toilet can increase tenfold. Rapid fatigue, decreased performance. These symptoms are also characteristic of other diseases. Therefore, it is wrong to judge diabetes solely by them. Drop in temperature. Many mistakenly believe that only a high temperature indicates health problems. However, in diabetes, its decrease is possible due to the slowing down of all metabolic processes. Itchy skin. Dehydrated skin can develop cracks. Visual impairment. Numbness of the lower limbs. This is a rather indicative symptom, which cannot be ignored. Subsequently, 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 should be used in a healthy body. In the case of diabetes, the substance remains, gradually poisoning all organs. Decreased libido. Any hormonal imbalance is accompanied by a deterioration of the libido.
Type 2 diabetes	Profuse urination. Strong thirst. Itchy skin. Increased body weight against the background of hormonal disorders. development of osteoporosis. Muscle hypotension. Muscle weakness is due to a disturbance in the peripheral nervous system.

The clinical picture may differ slightly depending on the patient's age and 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 in order to avoid the development of a diabetic coma. It occurs spontaneously and can be fatal if the child does not receive medical attention.

The first signs of diabetes in children are:

1. Frequent and heavy urination. If the baby is still potty-fed, it is easy to identify this symptom. Problems with urination mainly 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, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
3. Inconsistency in weight and amount of food eaten. The child eats a lot, but does not get better. Another option is also possible: the child eats little, but his body weight increases rapidly.

In addition to these symptoms, diabetes can manifest as itching, constant fatigue even after resting, and dry mouth.

The onset of diabetes in men

The clinical picture of the disease in men does not differ from the general picture. However, inflammation of the foreskin, of the entire urethra, can add 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 organ and the foreskin itself.

Diabetes disorders in women

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

1. Violation of the menstrual cycle. Bloody discharge may be completely absent for several months, then appear as clots.
2. The appearance of ulcers on the mammary glands. They are often confused with allergies, but ongoing treatment does not bring positive results.
3. Loss or gain of weight for no apparent reason.

This last symptom is more common in women than the 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. It is only after passing the tests that serious health problems are revealed.

Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes

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

The external manifestations of the disease practically do not differ from type 1 and type 2 diabetes. There is talk of 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, this can negatively affect her general well-being, the course of pregnancy. High blood sugar leads to the birth of a high-weight child (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 developmental delay. Sometimes diagnosed with jaundice, hypoglycemia.

What to do if you have symptoms of diabetes?

If you suspect diabetes, you should not self-medicate or ignore early symptoms. This disease falls within the competence of an endocrinologist. However, a therapist can make a diagnosis.

To determine the presence of a pathological process, in any case, you need 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 measurements 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 is aimed at determining the level of glucose in the blood.

Most often, patients are offered to take a blood test for sugar. Before delivery, you cannot eat for 8-12 hours. Alcohol is also prohibited. 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 exam is assigned.

The patient is asked 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, he drinks a glass of sugar water (75 g of the substance per 200 ml of water). After 2 hours, he redid a blood test.

In a healthy person, the rate after the first study can reach 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 state. Indicators much higher than these figures already indicate diabetes.

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

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

Possible complications

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

1. Neuropathy. The pathology is manifested by burning, severe pain and numbness in the lower limbs. It develops due to metabolic disorders in the central nervous system. Treatment consists of taking drugs containing thioctic acid. With timely medical help, the patient manages to restore nerve tissue.
2. diabetic coma. His symptoms progress 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 disease, 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 treatment is not started in time, trophic ulcers may begin to fester.

Diabetes can also lead to other health problems. They manifest themselves in the form of a disturbance in 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 essentially hereditary. Various viruses increase the likelihood 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 provoke the disease. Therefore, doctors give the following recommendations for its prevention:

1. Control your body weight (try to eat properly and balanced).
2. Monitor your blood pressure and, if necessary, seek medical attention for treatment.
3. Practice demanding sports.
4. Timely 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 proper functioning of the body.

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

Among the latter, it is worth noting diabetic coma, trophic ulcerations of the lower limbs and neuropathy. To protect yourself from such problems, it is important to know the first symptoms of the disease and, if they appear, to immediately consult a doctor. After passing the examination, which mainly consists of assessing blood sugar parameters, the specialist will be able to choose a therapy.