Any modern person should know the symptoms, signs of diabetes mellitus , because the prevalence of the disease from year to year is wider and wider. The term is used to denote such a pathology when insulin is not enough in the body, against which the problems of metabolic processes are observed. Diabetes is accompanied by hyperglycemia, the concentration of sugars in the urine increases. The disease provokes numerous complications, is life-threatening, chronic, and forces you to constantly adhere to a special diet, use supporting medications.
Important points
All modern people should know the first symptoms of diabetes, since there is a huge percentage of the population at risk. The disease is provoked by hereditary factors resulting from injuries - not only physical but also mental. There is a risk of improper metabolism during pregnancy and under the influence of a harmful virus. Diabetes is caused by vascular functioning problems, excess weight, autoimmune pathologies.
Against the background of insulin deficiency, the concentration of this hormone in the circulatory system decreases. The relative decrease in the activity of the hormone is sometimes explained by increased coefficients of protein binding or the destructive activity of liver enzymes. Excesses in the body of insulin antagonists can play a role. These distinguish two types: hormonal, non-hormonal. Another cause of diabetes is the correction of insulin-dependent tissue sensitivity to this hormone. Specific conditions, features make it possible to classify whether a person is sick with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Each of the forms has its own specifics, requires a different therapeutic approach, and manifests itself as distinctive symptoms.
Disease: what is observed?
Lack of insulin, the immunity of the compound by tissues provokes metabolic problems of various compounds - fats, carbohydrates, proteins. Glucose does not pass through the membranes of cells that form muscles, adipose tissue, hyperglycemia is observed. The first symptom of diabetes is rapid urination, also due to metabolic disorders. At the same time, polydipsia develops. Fats break down more actively, but the formation of such structures is deactivated, which is why the concentration of ketone bodies in the circulatory system increases. The balance of acids and alkalis shifts, acidosis is observed, due to which the excretion of potassium ions is activated. Together with urine, magnesium and sodium are excreted from the body. Against the background of such processes, renal failure is soon observed.
One of the symptoms of diabetes is a violation of the alkaline reserve, a decrease in indicators to 7.0-7.2 units. Triglycerides form in the liver, which is explained by the active intake of non-esterified fatty compounds into this organ. Cholesterol is quite actively generated. Protein synthesis is inhibited, antibodies are less efficiently produced, which makes a person vulnerable to infections. Over time, dysproteinemia manifests itself, in which alpha globulins are more fixed in the blood, but the amount of albumin is reduced relative to the norm. An increased frequency of urination causes dehydration. The body actively loses chlorides, calcium. Leaching of phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen compounds is observed.
What happens?
It is customary to isolate diabetes dependent and independent of insulin, as well as a disease caused by a lack of human diet. There are some other syndromes, conditions that provoke the disease. Pancreatic dysfunctions affecting hormones can lead to diabetes. DM can provoke some medication, chemicals. Sometimes the disease is explained by genetic characteristics, insulin, receptor changes, impaired tolerance, in which the weight remains normal. Often in clinical practice, the symptoms of gestational diabetes are recorded, that is, a disease observed during pregnancy.
It is seen from the statistics that such forms of the disease are most often observed when in the morning hours in the patient’s blood glucose indicators are normal, but the parameter increases significantly if carbohydrates from the easily digestible class are supplied with food. In this case, they speak of intolerance of the body. In addition to such a disease, true diabetes is distinguished, divided into two types - insulin dependent and not one. These diseases can affect both people suffering from excess body weight, and those who have normal weight.
Insulin-dependent type: what to look for?
The treatment of symptoms of diabetes of this type is more relevant for patients twenty-five years of age and younger. The disease proceeds brightly, its symptoms are clearly expressed, the course is mainly labile. Patients are characterized by the accumulation of ketone bodies, hypoglycemia. The onset is usually acute, a coma is possible. In a blood test, insulin, C-peptide is either not detected at all, or is present in much smaller amounts. You can suspect a disease by constantly tormenting thirst. Dries in the mouth, frequent urination. Often, patients unpredictably lose weight, feel weak, decreased performance, activated appetite. With diabetes, the skin, perineum may itch, boils form. Pyoderma is often observed.
For the type described, symptoms of diabetes in children and adults include sleep problems, sudden mood swings, and a tendency to irritability. Many complain of a sore head, soreness in the heart and muscle fibers of the legs in the calves. For patients with diabetes of this type, there is a higher risk of contracting tuberculosis, there is a risk of inflammatory processes affecting the kidneys, and a system of ways to remove urine from the body. A significant percentage of diabetics are sick with pyelonephritis, pyelitis. When a blood test results give increased glucose. The severity of symptoms is directly determined by the stage of the disease, the duration of its course, the specific individual qualities of the patient.
Having noticed these types of symptoms of diabetes mellitus, you should make an appointment with the doctor as soon as possible. The first form of the disease develops quickly, soon provokes a deterioration in well-being. The consequences of the disease can be quite severe, up to a coma and death.
Insulin independent type
If there are symptoms of diabetes in women after 30 years, in men of middle age and older, it is highly likely that we are talking about the second type of disease. It is more common for people with excess body weight. The disease begins discreetly, is unobtrusive, the symptoms are mild enough. In a blood test, the parameters of the C-peptide, insulin are close to normal, sometimes higher than standard. There are many cases when the disease was established only by chance during a routine examination or in a state where diabetes led to complications. Ketone bodies do not accumulate in the circulatory system. Therapy involves a special diet and the use of medicines. The choice of items is up to the doctor.
The presence of negative consequences, the nature of the development of the disease, the level of glycemia allow us to rank the patient in one of three groups of diabetics. With a mild degree of the disease, normalization of nutrition is sufficient. More often this category includes persons who have an insulin-independent type. Perhaps the development of retinopathy. The moderate severity of diabetes requires the use of medications. Patients are required to adhere to a special diet. The disease is accompanied by mild microangiopathy. The severe form is labile, daily it is necessary to receive a compensatory dose of insulin from 60 units or more. With this form, diabetes is accompanied by numerous health disorders, including retinopathy (to the fourth degree), nephropathy, neuropathy. With severe diabetes mellitus, disability suffers greatly.
Relevance of the problem
According to experts, many of our compatriots do not know what symptoms are observed with diabetes, therefore they do not go to the doctor when the first signs of pathology appear. From statistics it follows that for each official patient there are up to four diabetics who do not know their status. For the first time, the topic of diabetes and the treatment of this disease was thoroughly considered in 1921, when Frederick Bunting presented his report on the production of insulin. Not one year was spent on the development of a drug that can alleviate the condition of diabetics. Its discovery did not go unnoticed, because in former times, and today the number of diabetics in the world is huge. The disease does not distinguish between gender and age; women, men, and children suffer. Currently, among other endocrine pathologies, it is diabetes that takes first place in prevalence. The number of cases of diagnosing the disease is growing inexorably from year to year.
Serious consequences can be prevented if a disease is detected at the very beginning of its development. The correct approach to correcting the condition allows you to live a long, full life. It is possible to suspect that the time has come to visit a doctor if a person constantly feels thirst, hunger. Exactly these are the expressed first symptoms of diabetes mellitus, attracting the attention of even a lay man without a medical education. The patient often eats, but this may be accompanied by weight loss. Itchy skin, dry mouth, visual acuity suffers. Quite often pulls to visit the toilet. If a drop of urine remains on the clothing, a white speck appears on drying, similar to a starchy trace. With diabetes, many tend to sleep, the body weakens, there is no strength. However, do not wait until all the phenomena described are fully manifested. If at least one symptom is observed, it is already possible to suspect a disease and make an appointment with an endocrinologist. Particular attention should be given to those who already had diabetics among close relatives.
About blood quality
It is known that non-standard blood counts are the most striking and indisputable symptom of diabetes. The average glucose rate is 3.3-5.5 mmol / L. Doctors advise checking this parameter at least every four years, because the first time diabetes goes unnoticed. Only constant checks help to notice deviations from a healthy state in time. There are cases when no manifestations of diabetes were observed within 12 years from the onset of the disease. However, it is not necessary to make an appointment with the doctor if this is not possible. It makes sense to get a special device for determining glucose in the blood. This allows you to take data at least every day. The approximation of diabetes is indicated by parameters close to 5.55-6.94 mmol / L. If the device shows just such values, you should not pull it - you need a doctor’s consultation and a full examination of the body. If a person belongs to a risk group for the disease in question, it is recommended to take blood tests at least once every year.
Especially attentive for the symptoms and signs of diabetes in children and adults should be persons for whom the likelihood of developing the disease is greater. Since pathology is often provoked by genetic factors, there is a greater chance of a pathological condition if relatives have diabetes. It is important to constantly monitor blood sugar, if blood pressure is increased, there are extra pounds. An increased concentration of cholesterol in the circulatory system is another factor associated with a high risk of developing the disease. Overeating, regular stressful situations can affect. The risk group for diabetes includes people whose lifestyle is associated with insufficient physical activity.
Some features of the disease
As can be seen from the photos, the symptom of diabetes, the most familiar to many, is an elevated blood sugar. If the disease develops according to the first type, it often affects young people, and it is very difficult to cure such a problem. A characteristic feature is the so-called diabetic honeymoon. This term refers to the condition when treatment with insulin is just beginning. The disease is compensated, remission is observed, the patient does not need insulin, the body works normally, resorting only to its own resources. The situation is sharply violated if a person is faced with aggressive factors that can upset the balance. This can provoke a virus infection, stressful situation or physical trauma. After this, diabetes is activated, decompensation is observed, and serious complications soon appear.
Type 2 manifests itself somewhat differently. Symptoms of diabetes mellitus in this situation are observed gradually, there is no phenomenon of decompensation. The disease often develops at the age of 40 years and older. A larger percentage of patients are women. The first sign by which you can notice the disease is weight loss in a big way. Together with the primary manifestation, overweight is a risk factor. In this case, patients are mostly unaware of their problem. The disease can be suspected by the complications provoked by it. A dermatologist can send a blood test for sugar if the patient comes with a fungal disease, a gynecologist, if the patient complains of itching in the perineum, a neurologist, if the reason for visiting the clinic is neuropathy.
Diagnosis: how to identify?
If there are symptoms of type 2 diabetes mellitus or the first, it makes sense to consult a doctor for timely diagnosis of health status. The first analysis that is prescribed to a potential patient is a blood test. You will have to take it on an empty stomach in the morning. Normally, glucose is detected in the range of 3.3-5.5 mmol / L. Ketone bodies are present in a concentration of not more than one tenth of a millimole per liter of liquid. Hemoglobin is estimated at 4-6%. Immunoreactive insulin is detected in the amount of 86-180 nmol / L. The first type of diabetes is characterized by a decrease in this value, the second - by indicators above the norm. When analyzing urine in a healthy person, neither sugar nor acetone can be detected in the fluid secreted by the body, there are only traces of ketone bodies. To determine how much the kidneys suffered from the disease, a general urinalysis should be done to assess the performance of the organ. To identify negative effects on the retina, the patient is referred to an ophthalmologist for examination of the fundus, and to determine the state of the vascular system, Doppler ultrasound and capillaroscopy are prescribed.
It also happens that the symptoms of diabetes in women after 50 or men are present, but are poorly expressed, and studies of biological fluids do not give a final result, the indicators are doubtful. In this situation, a glucose tolerance test is performed. To do this, first take the indicators in the morning, on an empty stomach, and then take a certain amount of carbohydrates, called a test breakfast, as food. After a couple of hours, it is determined how much glucose has changed. If a person is sick, on an empty stomach the parameter reaches 6.1 mmol / L or more, and a couple of hours after a test meal, the devices record 11.1 mmol / L, sometimes this threshold is exceeded.
How to fight?
If symptoms of diabetes mellitus are noticeable in women after eating or in men, if the tests confirm the assumption and it was possible to accurately diagnose, then measures should be taken to maintain the body's strength. The very first thing a person can do is to get an appointment with a qualified endocrinologist. The doctor chooses a comprehensive therapeutic program, focusing on the characteristics of the case. They usually start by choosing the right diet. The goal of a diabetic is to completely eliminate easily digestible carbohydrates, as well as animal fats. It should be eaten often, in small portions. If a disease of the first type is established, insulin is prescribed. The dose is chosen, focusing on the patient’s condition, his weight and sugar indicators. A special approach is necessary if the pathology is accompanied by complications.
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Children are ill
Symptoms of diabetes are sometimes observed in children. In recent years, all diseases become younger, and this pathology will not be an exception. In general, the causes of the disease are similar to those that are characteristic of adults, although there are some specific features. For example, in some babies, diabetes develops against the background of too active production of growth hormone. Growth is accompanied by an increased rate of production of protein structures, which uses insulin, which means that tissues consume this compound in a larger volume than in adults. The pancreas does not always cope with such a load, the function is weakened, the body lacks insulin, which leads to the formation of diabetes. One of the confirmations of the theory of the connection between the diabetic state and active growth is clinical studies that have shown that there is ossification, accelerated growth of the child when diabetes is just beginning.
In most cases, in children the symptoms of diabetes appear slowly, gradually, at first they do not attract attention to themselves. Of course, it happens differently - a stormy, sharp start, when the symptoms are pronounced, but this is a significantly smaller percentage of cases. It is possible to notice something wrong with health if the child is constantly thirsty, urination is frequent. Many juvenile diabetics suffer from urinary incontinence - both at night and during the day. With normal, sometimes increased appetite, the child loses weight, looks lethargic and weak. Many suffer from headaches, quickly get tired. Skin manifestations of the disease are possible, although they are quite rare. The main, stable symptom is hyperglycemia. Most people have sugar in their urine, and the specific gravity does not always allow us to correctly assess the amount of sugars, so this method of diagnosis has established itself as unreliable. But in full compliance with the content of sugars in the blood and urine is almost never observed.
Children's diabetes: features
As with women with diabetes, symptoms in children include liver damage. Changes in the systems of internal organs are possible, and not always predictable. But rubeosis, xanthosis, characteristic of many adult patients, are practically not observed in babies. If adequate treatment is not started, the skin soon begins to peel off, the integument is dry. Puffiness is possible if the disease is accompanied by a sharp depletion. Pathology can be suspected by language - the color changes to bright red, the surface is dry, the papillae are smoothed. Many with diabetes start gingivitis, pyorrhea. The latter in childhood is much more difficult to tolerate than older patients. Caries progresses. Heart tones when listening are deaf, systole noise is possible, from which it is concluded that vascular tone is reduced. The pressure is usually below normal, the pulse is small. Capillaroscopy gives a red background, shows a wide knee of the artery, pathological changes in the myocardium can be seen on the ECG.
One of the symptoms of diabetes in women, men, and children is dyspepsia. It is known that at a young age with such a diagnosis, the probability of an increase in liver volumes is higher. The symptom is expressed the brighter, the longer the disease lasts. In the study, the organ is denser than the norm, provokes painful sensations. If diabetes is severe, red blood cells, proteins, and cylindrical cells are found in the patient’s urine. Renal filtration may be inhibited. If the child is old enough to describe his feelings, he complains of dizziness and headaches, while the condition is mild. Against the background of diabetes, memory suffers, limbs hurt, the sensitivity of the skin is impaired, tendon reflexes weaken, fade away. There are problems of visual accommodation - these are recorded much more often than in the case of adult patients. There is a risk of retinopathy, cataracts. Retinitis, ocular muscle paralysis are rare, but such a course is possible.
Women are ill: their own specifics
On average, symptoms of diabetes in women are more common than in men. There are many reasons for this. In addition, many representatives of the fair sex start the disease: the first manifestations are rather weak, so women delay the trip to the doctor until the very last moment, when it is already clear that it is urgent to start treatment. The therapy will be much more effective if you turn to a specialist at the first manifestations. Despite their relative harmlessness, one should not underestimate the danger of the condition. And the first thing that many pay attention to is profuse hair loss. Normally, about a hundred hair should fall out in a person per day, but this is due to metabolism. In diabetes, metabolism is impaired, so growth slows down, and prolapse is activated. The hair becomes brittle, loses its luster and beauty, the hair becomes thinner and slowly grows.
One of the symptoms of diabetes in women is drowsiness. Many do not attach particular importance to it, but this symptom is more than alarming, reflecting that the body does not have an adequate supply of energy for everyday tasks. This is explained by the impossibility of generating energy from glucose due to metabolic disorders. If during a night's rest the cells do not stock up the necessary energy volumes, during the working day the woman feels tired, weak. Such an observation of your condition is an important reason to visit a doctor and take tests.
Trivia Noteworthy
Symptoms of diabetes in men and women include itching of the feet, hands. Up to 80% of patients noted that the initial stages of the disease were accompanied by such sensations. Symptoms can be observed infrequently, but even rare manifestations deserve attention. In addition, many notice that wounds heal slowly. Itching in the perineum is possible, although it cannot be regarded as the main symptom of the disease - perhaps the cause is gynecological pathology. If itching is associated with other diabetic symptoms, you should immediately visit a doctor.
Over time, a new symptom of diabetes in women appears - appetite is activated, pulls on sweets. True, glucose is still not absorbed by cellular structures, tissues are starving, the brain sends new impulses, stimulating a person to eat. Craving sometimes becomes frighteningly strong. This will cause weight gain, tissues become even less sensitive to insulin, instead, sugar accumulate in the circulatory system, blood vessels, heart suffer. It makes sense to pay attention to where deposits of excess kilograms are localized. If the accumulation area is the waist, there is a high probability of chronic high blood pressure, heart dysfunction, metabolic disorders.
The strong half of humanity: the danger is great!
Although the disease is more common in women, the incidence of symptoms of diabetes in men increases. In general, the manifestations are similar to those described above. With the disease, even the most minor wounds begin to heal slowly and poorly, trophic ulcers can form over time. Running diabetes can cause gangrene. Of the primary symptoms, it is worth noting an increased frequency of urination, dry mouth, constant thirst, hunger. Many patients note that there is no strength to cope with ordinary activities that previously did not represent anything complicated.
With diabetes, especially in middle and old age, the intimate life disappears almost completely, a person loses the desire for such activity. Symptoms of diabetes in men include potency disorders.