This endocrine disease is widespread throughout the world. About 10% of the population of developed countries suffers from it. The number of sick people is constantly growing. Medicine has drugs that prolong the life of patients and make it more complete. However, diabetes mellitus, the causes of its occurrence need further study.
There are two types of disease. Type 1 (it is called young diabetes) occurs due to insufficient production of insulin. Type 2 is due to the fact that body cells lose their sensitivity to this hormone and do not absorb glucose at its normal and even increased concentration.
Insulin is a hormone formed in the pancreas. It is produced by beta cells of the so-called islets of Langerhans. Alpha cells entering these islands produce another hormone that affects the metabolism of carbohydrates - glucagon.
Under the action of insulin, sugar from the blood enters the cells, and its excess in the form of glycogen is deposited in the liver. The second hormone, glucagon, has the opposite effect - it stimulates the breakdown of glycogen and increases sugar levels. The causes of diabetes with its first type are closely related to impaired insulin production. The role of the hormone in the body is great. It affects all types of metabolism, makes cell membranes permeable to glucose, enhances protein synthesis and inhibits lipid breakdown. Under its action, appetite increases and fat mass increases, cholesterol levels increase.
Diabetes mellitus, the causes of which are associated with a violation of insulin production, is divided into two types: autoimmune and unclear in nature - idiopathic. Autoimmune diabetes is associated with abnormal production of antibodies against the tissues of your own pancreas. They are formed by the immune system, in response to damage to gland cells by the inflammatory process, infection, and the action of toxic substances. Antibodies destroy insulin producing cells. When active cells remain 20% or less, clinical signs of diabetes appear .
Diabetes mellitus, the causes of which are associated with a violation of the sensitivity of cell receptors to insulin, occurs in elderly and middle-aged people. With it, there is often overweight, especially abdominal obesity. Burdened by heredity, malnutrition with a predominance of carbohydrates and fats in food predispose to it. Constant stresses in which adrenaline and glucocorticoids are released into the blood also contribute to the development of the disease.
Some medications can trigger diabetes: thiazide diuretics, glucocorticoids, antitumor drugs. There are frequent cases when after their use diabetes develops. The causes of its occurrence are also associated with the presence of autoimmune diseases of other organs - the adrenal glands and the thyroid gland.
With a lack of insulin, all types of metabolism suffer. Tissues do not get the energy they need, and the amount of sugar in the blood becomes higher and higher. Alternative glucose processing processes are being compensated for in a compensatory way. But they are not enough to saturate the body with energy. Toxic substances and under-oxidized lipid metabolism products accumulate in the blood . Protein breakdown is activated . There is a process of glycosylation of hemoglobin. The first symptoms of the disease appear.
A little about how diabetes manifests itself. Symptoms increase gradually. Patients feel dry mouth and constant thirst. They have increased appetite, despite this, they often lose weight. They may be bothered by the constant itching of the mucous membranes and skin. Pustules and boils appear on the skin. Efficiency decreases, fatigue appears.
The appearance of such symptoms should be treated with attention, be sure to consult a doctor and examine blood sugar. Timely diagnosis will help to prescribe treatment on time and avoid possible complications.