How diabetes manifests itself, its causes and methods of prevention

Diabetes mellitus is 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. The number of infections has increased tenfold in the last two decades. Serious complications can be prevented if detected early. Therefore, it is important to know how diabetes manifests itself.

Causes and types of diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a disease characterized by metabolic disorders in the body. This is due to insufficient production of the hormone insulin by the pancreas. Its deficiency causes the accumulation of sugar in the body.

It should normally be converted to glucose by insulin. This process is accompanied by malfunctions and other symptoms. Sugar itself is excreted in large amounts in the urine, which leads to gradual dehydration and constant thirst.

To date, the exact causes of the disease have not been studied. However, doctors identify a group of factors that increase the risk of its occurrence.

1. hereditary tendency.
2. Overweight.
3. Pathologies of the pancreas (cancer, pancreatitis).
4. Exposure to viruses (influenza, rubella and smallpox are especially dangerous).
5. Frequent stress.
6. Age forward.

The classic classification of the disease involves the separation of its two forms: type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The first option is considered the most dangerous and is lifelong. Insulin should be injected intramuscularly to maintain a normal body condition. 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, 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 themselves?

Diabetes is an insidious disease. A person may be unaware of health problems for many years before falling into a hyperglycemic coma. Therefore, given its diversity, it is important to know the main manifestations of the pathology.

Table 1. Manifestations of type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus

type of diabetes	Clinical picture
Type 1 diabetes	Strong and constant thirst, difficult to quench with water. The patient may also feel dryness in the mouth and throat. You only need to drink a glass of water, because the urge to urinate is immediately visible. Rapid weight loss. You can lose 11 kg in a month. Increased appetite. Due to hormonal disorders, water-salt metabolism is disrupted, nutrients are difficult to digest. Frequent urination. The fluid does not just stay in the body. A patient can consume more than 2 liters of water per day, and the number of calls to the toilet can increase up to 10 times. Rapid fatigue, decreased performance. These symptoms are also characteristic of other diseases. Therefore, it is incorrect to evaluate diabetes only for them. Decrease in temperature. Many people mistakenly believe that only high temperatures indicate health problems. However, its reduction in diabetes is possible due to the slowing down of all metabolic processes. Itching of the skin. Cracks may form on dehydrated skin. Visual impairment. Harmony of the lower extremities. This is a very common symptom that cannot be ignored. Later, it can turn into gangrene due to suffering from the peripheral nervous system. Bad smell reminiscent of acetone. Acetone is a breakdown product of proteins that must be used in a healthy body. In diabetes, the substance remains, gradually poisoning all organs. Decreased sexual desire. Any hormonal disorder is accompanied by a deterioration of libido.
Type 2 diabetes	Excessive urination. Severe thirst. Itching of the skin. Weight gain against the background of hormonal disorders. development of osteoporosis. Muscle hypotension. Muscle weakness is caused by a disorder of the peripheral nervous system.

Depending on the age and sex of the patient, the clinical picture may be slightly different.

Signs of the onset of diabetes in children

It is easy to recognize pathology in children. It is important to do this in time to prevent the development of diabetic coma. This happens spontaneously and can be fatal if the child is not treated.

Early signs of diabetes in children:

1. Frequent and excessive urination. If the baby is still going to the potty, this symptom is easy to identify. 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, compotes and juices should be replaced with plain water. If thirst does not decrease in this case, you should consult a doctor.
3. Inconsistency in weight and quantity of food consumed. The child eats a lot, but does not get better. Another option is possible: the child eats less, but the body weight increases rapidly.

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

The onset of diabetes in men

In men, the clinical picture of the disease does not differ from the general. However, all the symptoms can be accompanied by inflammation of the foreskin, the entire urethra. This often occurs due to urinary excretion. The concentration of sugar in the urine is very high, which irritates the tissues of the body and the foreskin itself.

Diabetes disorders in women

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

1. Menstrual disorders. The bloody discharge may disappear completely in a few months, and then appear in the form of clots.
2. Appearance of ulcers in the mammary glands. They are often mistaken for allergies, but ongoing treatment does not give positive results.
3. Lose or gain weight for no reason.

The latter symptom is more common in women than in others. Patients on a high-calorie diet can lose up to 10 kg. On the other hand, some people gain weight while following a strict diet. Such a disorder is usually perceived as a malfunction of the hormonal system. Only after passing the tests are serious health problems revealed.

Symptoms of gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes develops only in pregnant women. No special external features. It is usually detected during regular check-ups for women in office. The main diagnosis is the results of blood and urine tests.

External manifestations of the disease are practically no different 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 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 in the womb. However, this can negatively affect her overall well-being and the course of the pregnancy. High glucose levels lead to the birth of a child with a high weight (4 kg or more).

It is often considered a prerequisite for the onset of obesity and diabetes in children. In some cases, there is a slight delay in development. Sometimes jaundice and hypoglycemia are diagnosed.

What to do if you have symptoms of diabetes?

If you suspect diabetes, you should not self-medicate and ignore the initial symptoms. This disease is under the authority of an endocrinologist. But a therapist can make a diagnosis.

In any case, to determine the presence of a pathological process, it is necessary to seek medical help. 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 an initial diagnosis be made. You must undergo a thorough examination to confirm this.

Diagnosis of the disease

Any study for suspected diabetes is aimed at determining blood glucose levels.

Patients are often asked to have a blood test for sugar. You cannot eat for 8-12 hours before delivery. Alcohol is also prohibited. It is better to stop smoking. Normally, the glucose reading should be 5, 5 mmol per liter. If this parameter is 7 units or more, an additional examination is scheduled.

The patient is asked to undergo a glucose tolerance test. The analysis consists of several parts. First, the patient receives a standard fasting blood test. Then drink a glass of water with sugar (75 g of substance in 200 ml of water) in a medical institution. Gives a blood test again after 2 hours.

In a healthy person, after the first study, the figure is up to 5. 5 mmol per liter, and after the second - up to 7. 8 mmol per liter. When these parameters are slightly exceeded (a few tenths), the doctor will draw a conclusion about the pre-diabetes condition. Significantly higher than these figures already indicate diabetes.

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

In this case, the patient should discuss with the doctor measures to prevent the disease. When the level of glycated hemoglobin is more than 6, 5%, there is a possibility of diabetes. However, confirmation with additional tests is required.

Possible complications

The disease itself does not pose a threat to human life, but is subject to medical advice. Its complications are dangerous. The most common of these are:

1. Neuropathy. The pathology manifests itself in the area of the lower extremities with burning, severe pain and numbness. It develops due to metabolic disorders in the central nervous system. Treatment involves taking medications containing thiotic acid. By seeking timely medical attention, the patient is able to restore nerve tissue.
2. diabetic coma. His symptoms are growing rapidly. Therefore, the patient is immediately hospitalized. Darkening of the eyes at first, may complain of mental retardation. There are several types of this condition, but ketoacidosis is the most common. It is characterized by the accumulation of toxins in the body that rapidly destroy nerve cells.
3. Trophic ulcers. This is a serious pathology that significantly impairs the quality of human life. If treatment is not started on time, trophic ulcers may begin to fester.

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

Diabetes prevention

First of all, it should be noted that it is difficult to predict the appearance of type 1 diabetes. The disease is mainly hereditary. 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. Addictions, sedentary lifestyle, alcohol abuse - all these factors can trigger the disease. Therefore, doctors give the following recommendations for its prevention:

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

If you follow these simple rules, 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 requires lifelong insulin. If you neglect treatment, the pathological process can become more complicated and lead to very unpleasant consequences.

The latter include diabetic coma, trophic ulcers in the lower extremities, and neuropathy. To protect yourself from such problems, it is important to know the early signs of the disease, and if they appear, consult a doctor immediately. The specialist will be able to choose therapy after passing an examination, which consists mainly of assessment of blood glucose parameters.