How diabetes manifests itself, its causes and methods of prevention

Diabetes mellitus is considered 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. 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 metabolism of 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 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 its occurrence.

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

The classical 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 lifelong. 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 amount that is necessary.

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 features of the course.

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 he falls into a hyperglycemic coma. Therefore, it is important to know the main manifestations of 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 dryness in the mouth and throat. One has only 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, water-salt metabolism is disturbed, nutrients are difficult to digest. Frequent urge to urinate. Fluid 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 the toilet can increase up to 10 times. Rapid fatigue, decreased performance. These symptoms are also characteristic of other diseases. Therefore, it is wrong to judge diabetes only by them. Decreased temperature. Many mistakenly believe that only an elevated temperature indicates health problems. However, in diabetes, its decrease is possible due to the slowdown of all metabolic processes. Skin itching. Dehydrated skin may develop cracks. Visual impairment. Numbness of the lower extremities. This is a rather indicative symptom, which cannot be ignored. Subsequently, it can transform into gangrene due to the fact that the peripheral nervous system suffers. Bad breath, reminiscent of acetone. Acetone is a breakdown product of proteins that must be utilized in a healthy body. In the case of diabetes, the substance remains, gradually poisoning all organs. Decreased sex drive. Any hormonal disorder is accompanied by a deterioration in libido.
Type 2 diabetes	Profuse urination. Strong thirst. Skin itching. Increase in body weight 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 differ slightly depending on the age of the patient and his 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 is not given medical attention.

The early signs of diabetes in children are:

1. Frequent and large amounts of urination. If the baby still goes to the potty, it is easy to identify this symptom. Problems with urination occur mainly 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 consult a doctor.
3. Inconsistency in weight and amount of food consumed. The kid 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 be manifested by 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 the signs. This happens due to frequent urination. The concentration of sugar in urine is quite high, which entails irritation of the tissues of the organ and the foreskin itself.

Diabetes disorders in women

In the fair sex, the onset of the disease manifests itself as 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, and then appear in the form of clots.
2. The appearance of ulcers on the mammary glands. They are often mistaken for allergies, but the ongoing treatment does not bring positive results.
3. 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 in 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, serious health problems are revealed.

Symptoms of gestational diabetes

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

External manifestations of the disease practically do not differ 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 carry a direct threat to the woman and the fetus inside the womb. However, it can negatively affect her general well-being, the course of pregnancy. High glucose levels entail the birth of a child with a high weight (from 4 kg or more).

Often this is regarded as 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 symptoms of diabetes?

If you suspect diabetes, you should not self-medicate or ignore the initial symptoms. This disease is 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 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 a preliminary diagnosis be made. To confirm it, you will need to undergo a comprehensive 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 can not eat for 8-12 hours. Alcohol is also banned. Better to stop smoking. Normally, the glucose indicator should be 5. 5 mmol per liter. If this parameter is 7 units or more, an additional examination 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 facility, he drinks a glass of water with sugar (75 g of the 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 make a conclusion about the pre-diabetic condition. Indicators that are much higher than these figures already indicate diabetes.

Some are prescribed an analysis for glycated hemoglobin. With it, you can track the state of glucose in the blood over the past 3 months. Normally, this figure should be less than 5. 7%. With values in the range of 5. 7-6. 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 level of glycated hemoglobin is more than 6. 5%, diabetes is likely. However, confirmation through additional tests is required.

Possible Complications

The disease itself does not pose a threat to human life, but 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 extremities. It develops due to metabolic disorders in the central nervous system. Treatment involves taking medications with thioctic acid. With timely seeking medical help, the patient manages to restore the nervous tissue.
2. diabetic coma. Her symptoms are growing rapidly. Therefore, the patient is immediately subject to hospitalization. At first, he may complain of darkening in 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 rapidly 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 may begin to fester.

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).

Prevention of diabetes

First of all, it should be noted that the appearance 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 occurrence directly depends on the quality of human life. Addictions, an inactive lifestyle, alcohol abuse - all these factors can provoke the 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. 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 is the key to the full functioning of the body.

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

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