What is diabetes? The basis of the disease is a violation of the metabolism of carbohydrates and water. As a result, pancreatic function is reduced. It is this body that is responsible for the production of a hormone called insulin.
Many are interested in what is insulin? After all, it is he who is used to treat diabetes.
The hormone insulin is involved in the production of sugar. In its absence, the body is not able to process sugar into glucose. As a result, the blood sugar level rises. It is excreted in large quantities with urine.
In parallel with this process, there is a violation of water metabolism. Tissues are not able to retain water. As a result, its excess is excreted by the kidneys.
If a person has a high level of glucose in the blood, then this is the main sign that the body is affected by an ailment such as diabetes.
Insulin response to blood sugar
What is insulin and what is the pattern of its interaction with sugar? In the human body, beta-proteins of the pancreas are responsible for the production of the hormone. Insulin supplies the cells in the right amount of sugar.
What kind of malfunction is observed in the body with high sugar content? In this case, insulin is not sufficiently produced in the body, the sugar level is elevated, but the cells suffer from a lack of glucose supply.
So, diabetes. What is simple language? The basis of the disease is a violation of metabolic processes in the body. The disease can be both hereditary and acquired.
From insulin deficiency, the skin is affected by small pustules, the condition of the gums and teeth worsens, atherosclerotic plaques, angina pectoris develop, pressure increases, kidneys function is depressed, functional disorders of the nervous system are noted, vision decreases.
Etiology of the disease
What causes diabetes, what provokes it? The pathogenesis of this disease depends on the type of disease. Two main types are distinguished, which have large differences. Although in modern endocrinology such a separation is arbitrary, the type of disease is still important in the choice of therapy. Therefore, it is advisable to consider the characteristics of each species separately and highlight their key characteristics.
In any case, diabetes mellitus, the causes of which lie in the violation of carbohydrate metabolism and a constant increase in blood glucose, is a serious disease. Elevated blood sugar in medicine is called hyperglycemia.
The hormone insulin does not interact with tissues fully. It is he who lowers the content of glucose in the body by conducting it to all cells of the body. Glucose is an energy substrate that helps maintain the body's life.
If the system is broken, then glucose does not participate in the normal metabolic process and is collected in excess in the blood. These are causal mechanisms that are the start of diabetes.
It should be noted that not every increase in blood sugar is true diabetes. The disease is provoked by a primary violation of the action of insulin.
What are the conditions for hyperglycemia?
Hyperglycemia can occur in the following conditions:
- Pheochromocytoma. It represents a benign tumor in the adrenal gland, which contributes to the production of insulin antagonist hormones.
- Glucagonoma and somatostatinoma - the proliferation of cells that synthesize competitors of insulin.
- Increased adrenal function.
- Increased thyroid function (hyperthyroidism).
- Cirrhosis of the liver.
- Violation of tolerance to carbohydrates (their reduced absorption after eating with a normal fasting rate).
- Passing hyperglycemia.
The feasibility of isolating such conditions is due to the fact that the resulting hyperglycemia is secondary. She acts as a symptom. Therefore, eliminating the underlying disease, it is possible to achieve normalization of blood glucose levels.
If the violation is observed in the body for a long time, then this gives reason to diagnose a disease such as diabetes. In this case, it occurs against the background of pathological processes in the body.
Symptoms of the disease
The clinical manifestation of the disease is characterized by a gradual increase in the leading signs. Diabetes rarely debuts at lightning speed, it develops gradually.
The onset of the disease is characterized by the following symptoms:
- feeling of dry mouth;
- constant thirst that cannot be satisfied;
- increased urination;
- sudden weight loss or obesity;
- itching and dry skin;
- the formation of small pustules on the skin;
- poor wound healing;
- muscle weakness;
- fast fatiguability;
- increased sweating.
Typically, these complaints are the first bell of the onset of diabetes. If such symptoms appear, it is recommended to immediately contact an endocrinologist.
As the course of the disease worsens, conditions can occur that adversely affect the work of internal organs. With a critical development of the disease, even a violation of consciousness with severe poisoning and multiple organ failure can be observed.
Factors provoking the disease
What is diabetes? The causes of the development of the disease are diverse.
The triggering factors for diabetes are as follows:
- Adverse genetic background. At the same time, other factors are nullified.
- Weight gain.
- A number of pathological processes in the body that contribute to the defeat of beta proteins. As a result, the production of insulin in the body is disrupted.
- A pancreatic tumor, pancreatitis, pathological disorders of the endocrine glands can provoke the development of the disease.
- Diseases of an infectious nature, for example, damage to the body by rubella, chickenpox, hepatitis and even banal flu. These diseases can serve as a trigger for the development of the disease, especially in people at risk.
- Nervous stress. Emotional overstrain adversely affects the functionality of the pancreas.
Does age matter
Does age play a role in the development of a disease such as diabetes? Paradoxically, the answer is positive. Scientists have found that every 10 years the risk of damage to the body by an ailment is doubled. In this case, diabetes can be diagnosed even in infants.
Why there are two types of disease
This distinction is important, because in one form or another different therapy is selected.
The longer the course of diabetes mellitus, the less distinct the division into subspecies. With a prolonged course, the same treatment will be carried out regardless of the causes of the ailment.
Type 1 diabetes
This species causes a lack of insulin. Most often, this type of disease affects people under the age of 40 years with an asthenic physique. The course of diabetes is severe. To stop the disease, insulin is required. The reason is that the body produces antibodies that destroy pancreatic cells.
In the presence of type 1 diabetes, a complete cure is not possible, although very rarely there are cases of complete restoration of pancreatic function. But this state can only be achieved by including a certain diet with the use of natural raw foods.
To maintain the body using a synthetic analogue of the hormone insulin, which is administered intramuscularly. Since insulin is susceptible to destruction in the gastrointestinal tract, taking it in the form of tablets is impractical. The hormone is administered with food. In this case, it is important to adhere to a certain diet. Products containing sugar and carbohydrates are completely excluded from the diet.
Type 2 diabetes
Why does this diabetes arise? The causes of the occurrence are not a lack of insulin. Most often, such an ailment affects people after 40 years who have a tendency to be overweight. The cause of the disease lies in the loss of sensitivity of cells to insulin due to the increased content of nutrients in the body.
The administration of the hormone insulin is not applicable to every patient. Only a doctor can choose the right treatment regimen and, if necessary, determine the daily dose of the hormone.
First of all, such patients are invited to review their diet and adhere to a diet. It is very important to strictly follow the doctor's recommendations. It is advised to gradually lose weight (3 kg per month). Weight should be monitored throughout life, not allowing it to be added.
If the diet does not help, special medications are prescribed to lower the sugar level, and only in a very extreme case resort to the use of insulin.
What pathological processes are triggered in the body with increased insulin
The higher the blood sugar and the longer the disease itself, the more severe its manifestations. The consequences of diabetes can be very serious.
The following pathological mechanisms are launched to release excess glucose by the body:
- Glucose is transformed into fat, which leads to obesity.
- Glycolization of cell membrane proteins occurs, which causes a violation of the functionality of all systems in the human body.
- The sorbitol pathway for glucose release is activated. The process causes the appearance of toxic compounds that affect nerve cells. It is the basis of diabetic neuropathy.
- Small and large vessels are affected, which is caused by an increased blood cholesterol content during glycosylation of proteins. As a result, this process causes diabetic microangiopathy of the internal organs and eyes, as well as angiopathy of the lower extremities.
Based on the foregoing, it can be stated that an increase in the level of glucose in the blood contributes to the defeat of internal organs with a primary lesion of one system.
Symptoms of Complicated Diabetes
- sharp visual impairment;
- migraines and other functional disorders of the nervous system;
- pain in the heart;
- enlarged liver;
- pain and numbness in the lower extremities;
- decreased sensitivity of the skin in the feet;
- arterial hypertension;
- the appearance of a smell of acetone from the patient;
- loss of consciousness.
The appearance of vivid symptoms of diabetes should be a signal of alarm. Such manifestations indicate a deep development of the disease and its insufficient correction through medications.
Diabetes Complications
The disease itself does not pose a threat to human life. Complications are more dangerous. It should be noted some of them. These effects of diabetes are quite common.
The most serious condition is loss of consciousness or a high degree of inhibition of the patient. Such a patient should be hospitalized immediately.
The most common diabetic coma is ketoacidotic. It is caused by the accumulation of toxic substances in metabolic processes that have a detrimental effect on nerve cells. The main indicator of coma is the smell of acetone when breathing. Consciousness in this state is darkened, the patient is covered with profuse sweat. In this case, there is a sharp decrease in blood sugar, which can be caused by an overdose of insulin. Other types of coma are extremely rare.
Swelling can be both local and extensive. This symptom is an indicator of impaired renal function. If the edema is characterized by asymmetry, and it spreads on one leg or foot, then this process is evidence of diabetic microangiopathy of the lower extremities caused by neuropathy.
Systolic and diastolic pressure is also an indicator of the severity of diabetes. It is possible to regard a condition in two ways. In the first case, attention is drawn to the indicator of total pressure. The increase indicates a progressive course of diabetic nephropathy. With this complication, the kidneys release substances that increase blood pressure.
On the other hand, pressure drop in vessels and lower extremities is often noted. The process is determined during sound dopplerography. It indicates the presence of angiopathy of the lower extremities.
Pain in the legs is an indicator of the development of diabetic angio-or neuropathy. Microangiopathy is characterized by pain during physical exertion and walking.
The appearance of pain during the night indicates the presence of diabetic neuropathy. As a rule, this condition is characterized by numbness with a decrease in sensitivity. Some patients have a local burning sensation in certain areas of the lower leg or foot.
Trophic ulcers are the next stage of diabetic angio- and neuropathy after pain. The appearance of wounds with different forms of diabetic foot varies. For each individual case, individual treatment methods are provided. In a difficult situation, the smallest symptoms should be taken into account, since it depends on whether the patient's limb will be preserved.
Neuropathic ulcers are caused by a decrease in the sensitivity of the feet against the background of neuropathy with foot deformity. At the main points of friction in the areas of bone protrusions corns are formed that are not felt by patients. Hematomas arise under them, in which pus collects in the future. The foot begins to greatly disturb a person only when swelling and the appearance of an ulcer on it.
Gangrene is usually caused by diabetic angiopathy. In this case, small and large vessels are affected. Usually the process is localized in the area of one toe. If blood flow is disturbed, sharp pain appears in the foot, then redness occurs. Over time, the skin acquires a bluish tint, becomes cold and swollen, then becomes covered with blisters with cloudy contents and black skin necrosis.
Such changes are not treatable. In this case, amputation is indicated. Its optimal level is the shin region.
How to prevent the development of complications
Prevention of complications is based on the early detection of the disease and its proper treatment. The doctor should plan the right treatment, and the patient must strictly follow the instructions.
The lower extremities in diabetes mellitus need daily proper care. If damage is found, consult a surgeon immediately.
Diabetes Prevention
Unfortunately, it is not always possible to prevent the development of the disease. After all, often the trigger is genetics and viruses that infect every person.
In a completely different way, the condition is assessed in the presence of type 2 diabetes. It is often associated with the wrong lifestyle.
In this case, the following measures can be attributed to preventive measures:
- normalization of weight;
- blood pressure control;
- food intake low in carbohydrates and fats;
- moderate physical activity.
Conclusion
So, what is diabetes? The disease is a violation of the body's glucose uptake mechanism.
A complete cure is not possible. The exception is type 2 diabetes. To stop it, a certain diet is used in combination with moderate physical activity. It should be remembered that the risk of recurrence of the disease in violation of the regimen is extremely high.