By type 1 diabetes mellitus, doctors mean an autoimmune systemic disease that is characterized by complete insulin deficiency. Despite the fact that this condition is detected in approximately 8-10% of patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, this type is considered the most severe, as it creates the greatest possible risk to a person, especially if it is not detected in a timely manner.
Features of the disease
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is an endocrine disorder characterized by insufficient production of the hormone insulin by the pancreas. As a result of this, a person has an elevated blood sugar level and concomitant symptoms.
The disease is considered incurable, therefore, in the presence of diabetes, patients have to take medications throughout their lives to help normalize their sugar levels and control their condition. In some cases, even disability with type 1 diabetes is possible, so it is important to pay attention to the existing problem.
Causes of occurrence
This disease is diagnosed relatively rarely, it can occur even in young children and rarely opens up in adulthood. It is impossible to completely cure the disease, however, the main task of the therapy is to compensate for the lack of insulin with medications. To ensure long-term steady dynamics, it is necessary to initially determine the causes of type 1 diabetes. This disease can be triggered by:
- hereditary predisposition;
- toxic effects of drugs;
- high activity of dangerous viruses;
- following a strict diet;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- malnutrition;
- significant physical exertion;
- constant stress;
- autoimmune diseases.
It is worth noting that these are only the main prerequisites for the occurrence of the disease. Despite the fact that the history of type 1 diabetes is almost 100 years old, the exact reasons for its occurrence have not been established.
The main symptoms
Insufficient production of insulin by endocrine cells can provoke characteristic symptoms of type 1 diabetes. Among the main symptoms you need to highlight:
- dry mouth and thirst;
- frequent urination
- excessive sweating;
- general weakness of the body;
- frequent depression, a high degree of irritability.
Women manifest frequent vaginal fungal infections, which are very difficult to treat. In addition, a change in vision may be observed. In the absence of competent timely treatment and maintaining the level of glucose in the patient's body, signs of a diabetic type ketoacidosis may occur, in particular, such as:
- severe nausea and vomiting;
- smell of acetone;
- dehydration of the body;
- hard breath;
- confusion and its periodic loss.
To achieve a good result of therapy, it is necessary to conduct timely comprehensive diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus, as well as constantly take special medications, inject insulin and follow a diet.
Differences between types 1 and 2
Before prescribing treatment, you need to determine the differences of this disease by type. This information is presented in tabular form. Type 1 diabetes mellitus is significantly different from type 2 disease.
Options | 1 type of disease | 2 type of disease |
Age of onset of the disease | Children and teens | Aged people |
Causes | Cell destruction | Wrong lifestyle |
Symptomatology | Expressed | Somewhat oiled |
Patient weight | Often within normal limits | Increased, may be obesity |
Proprietary insulin | Not produced | Within normal or increased |
Blood antigens | Are available | Are absent |
Stimulation of insulin production | Often useless | Effective at the onset of the disease |
The characteristics and differences of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus help to make the correct diagnosis and determine the course of the disease.
Diagnostics
Modern medicine offers several fairly effective methods for diagnosing and determining the presence of type 1 diabetes. They are based on the analysis of indicators of carbohydrate metabolism in the blood.
Be sure to take a blood test to determine fasting sugar. 12 hours before this, you should abandon the consumption of food, alcohol, reduce physical activity, do not take medications, and also avoid stress. The reliability of the results changes in patients after surgery, as well as if there are any problems with the intestines and stomach, during menstruation, in the presence of inflammation.
In addition to a blood test, a stress test can be used. After passing the classical analysis, the patient should take 75 g of glucose solution orally. Within 2 hours, blood is sampled for sugar. The upper limit of glucose concentration is an indicator of this test.
The most accurate result can be obtained when conducting a test for glycated hemoglobin. It practically does not depend on the influence of external factors.
In addition, the doctor prescribes a comprehensive diagnosis to exclude the occurrence of diseases and conditions that provoke hyperglycemia. In addition, this will determine the form of diabetes. After that, the doctor selects the appropriate treatment that will help normalize the patient's well-being.
Treatment features
After confirming the diagnosis, a comprehensive treatment of type 1 diabetes is carried out, developed according to an individual program for each patient. The main scheme of therapy implies the use of drugs that reduce the amount of glucose. Their patient is prescribed for life. The dosage of the drug is selected strictly individually, depending on the characteristics of the patient’s body, the course of the disease, the parallel use of other drugs, as well as the presence of complications.
In addition, the patient is shown the use of vitamins, as well as other medicines that help normalize health and increase immunity. A good effect is given by folk remedies and methods, which are desirable to use in combination with drug therapy. In addition, it is important to follow a special diet for type 1 diabetes, the menu of which is developed by an endocrinologist along with a nutritionist. When conducting complex therapy, you can achieve a good result, reduce the existing symptoms, and also increase the duration and quality of life.
Drug therapy
Often there is type 1 diabetes in children. Throughout their lives, they are forced to take special medications to normalize their health. If it is impossible to produce insulin, the only way to achieve a decrease in glucose is to administer insulin. The greater its amount will be, the better the patient will feel.
It also requires the use of additional drugs that will help remove the manifestations of insulin resistance and prevent the occurrence of complications associated with a high dosage of insulin.
In the presence of hypertension, ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers are additionally prescribed, in particular, such as Betaxolol, Nebivolol, Enalapril. Treatment with these drugs is prescribed for high blood pressure to prevent the development of nephropathy in the patient.
Vascular changes are monitored by measuring blood density. If there is a need for its dilution, then antiplatelet agents are prescribed, the most common of which is Aspirin. If the level of cholesterol is significantly higher than normal, then the use of statins is shown, which inhibit the production of this substance.
With obesity, the patient significantly increases the risk of insulin resistance. This condition is characterized by the fact that cells cannot fully receive glucose. Treatment is carried out using Metamorphine.
In addition, in addition, special vitamin complexes can be prescribed as an adjuvant, which will help normalize the patient's well-being. In particular, vitamins with antioxidant qualities are required. It is recommended to use such formulations as Verwag Pharma, Doppelherz Asset, and Alphabet Diabetes.
Insulin
To most accurately mimic the production of insulin, with type 1 diabetes mellitus, drugs of various durations of action are used. Such compositions are substitutes for basal secretion present in the body throughout the day. Short insulin - an imitation of the reaction of the pancreas to the intake of carbohydrates. Usually, 2 long-acting and at least 3 short-acting drugs are prescribed per day.
Dosage may vary depending on the influence of external factors. Children in the period of active growth require more insulin, then its amount is gradually reduced. It is absolutely necessary to carry out dose adjustment during pregnancy, as the need for this substance at different times fluctuated significantly.
Intensive insulin therapy is calculated by the number of eaten, performed physical activity. It also depends largely on the amount of glucose. It is now used worldwide and is considered the best way to protect yourself from high sugar and complications.
The use of folk techniques
If pancreatic cell destruction progresses, some patients additionally apply alternative methods of treatment, which help to alleviate the symptoms and achieve better treatment results. It is worth remembering that you can not independently apply alternative methods without consulting a doctor or replace insulin with these drugs, since very serious complications that pose a threat to life can develop.
To stimulate the work of internal organs, you can take powder from acorns in an amount of 1 tsp. before every meal. To correct the amount of glucose, 50 ml of lemon concentrate combined with a chicken egg are prescribed.
Compliance with a special diet
In order for the treatment to be more effective, with type 1 diabetes mellitus, you must additionally follow a special diet. It is prescribed by the attending doctor, depending on the individual characteristics of the patients. At the same time, it is very important to accurately calculate the amount of carbohydrates that enter the body with each meal. For this, all products are weighed, the amount of substances that they contain is determined according to the nutritional value table of the products. Then you need to translate all this into XE, that is, bread units. In type 1 diabetes, they are very important.
One such bread unit is 12 grams of pure carbohydrates. Based on the data obtained, the dosage of the drug used is also calculated. Basically, 1 XE accounts for 1-2 units of insulin.
It is recommended for patients with diabetes mellitus to opt for a low-carb diet with the exception of their diet:
- potatoes;
- of bread;
- sweets;
- croup;
- fruits containing glucose.
You should refuse snacks and divide the food into 4 doses. Be sure to consume foods with protein each time. The menu for type 1 diabetes is prescribed only by the doctor, and the recommendations received must be followed very strictly, since any deviation can provoke a sharp increase in glucose and poor health. The dietary program is developed taking into account the presence of concomitant diseases, complications and many other factors.
In addition, it is categorically not recommended to starve, since injections are directly dependent on the daily diet. If you reduce food or completely refuse food, then you will not be able to calculate the dose of insulin.
How many people with diabetes live
It is simply impossible to cure the disease forever, despite the fact that newer and more modern methods of therapy are constantly emerging. A promising area is the use of insulin pumps, which are constantly being improved. They provide a much better compensation of this substance in the body than its manual introduction.
According to statistics, the life expectancy of patients with diabetes is not too optimistic, since men live to about 57 years, and women to 61, with strict adherence to all the recommendations of the attending doctor. Very often, children and adolescents die of this disease, in whom diabetes was diagnosed only after the onset of ketoacidosis and coma. The older a person, the more he is able to control his state of health, thereby increasing life expectancy.
Possible complications
Insulin-dependent diabetes is dangerous because the disease progresses very quickly, as a result of which the person's well-being worsens sharply. With the untimely identification of the pathological process, as well as sudden changes in the amount of glucose in the patient, the following complications may develop:
- diabetic angiopathy;
- gangrene;
- poor blood circulation;
- diabetic foot;
- osteoporosis;
- hepatitis;
- obesity of the liver.
The most dangerous complication is a coma. It poses a great threat to the life of the patient and, without timely assistance, can lead to death.
Preventive measures
In order to prevent the occurrence of this disease in adults and children, a comprehensive thorough prevention is required, especially in people with a hereditary predisposition. Preventive measures are:
- maintaining an active lifestyle;
- proper nutrition;
- stress management;
- timely treatment of infectious and viral diseases;
- strengthening immunity.
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a complex and dangerous disease that cannot be cured, but with proper treatment and careful adherence to the doctor’s recommendations, you can normalize your health.