The article will discuss the complications of diabetes.
This pathology is quite common in the modern world. This disease not only completely changes the lives of people, but also entails some complications. Diabetes mellitus is a consequence of disorders of the endocrine system. In the event that the amount of insulin is insufficient for the breakdown of glucose, the disease will be attributed to type 1 diabetes. Excessive predominance of insulin, unable to contact certain receptors, indicates the presence of a disease of the second type.
So, what are the complications of diabetes?
Features of the disease
Pathology of the first type is most characteristic of young people and children. Type 2 diabetes is often diagnosed in older people. Thanks to timely diagnostic methods, the further development of the disease can be avoided by non-drug treatment.
Complications of type 1 and type 2 diabetes do not differ much.
Incorrectly diagnosed and untimely started treatment can be the cause of complications. Moreover, their appearance is possible both at the initial stage, and after several decades from the detection of pathology. Complications of diabetes are divided into early and late.
Early type of complications
Such complications are also called acute, and they pose a serious threat to life. They are characterized by rapid development, which takes a period from several hours to one week. Neglect of medical care or untimely provision of it in most cases leads to death.
Among the acute complications of diabetes mellitus stand out to someone - a condition in which there is a slowdown in all processes of human activity. The activity of the processes decreases, and the reflexes, in turn, completely disappear. In addition, there is a violation of the activity of the heart and its rhythm, difficulties with independent breathing are likely.
It is rather difficult to foresee the appearance of a similar complication of type 2 diabetes. It is formed quite rapidly, therefore, it is required that someone is constantly next to the patient. This should be a relative who knows how to provide first aid or medical staff. Patient treatment should be carried out only under the supervision of doctors in a hospital. Initially, the patient is sent for intensive care. After some improvements, he is transferred to a special department.
Let us consider in more detail this type of complications after diabetes.
Types of com
In medicine, coma is usually divided into two main groups:
- Hyperglycemic type com.
- Hypoglycemic type com.
What are the causes of diabetes complications of this kind? Hypoglycemic coma occurs due to a sharp drop in sugar levels. They are characterized by the growth of this substance in a short period of time. Hyperglycemic coma is divided into ketoacidosis, as well as the hyperosmolar and hyperlactacidemic form.
Complications of type 1 diabetes are presented below.
Ketoacidosis
This condition is characteristic of patients who are assigned the first type of disease. Ketoacidosis is a metabolic disorder, the main cause of which is insulin deficiency. Violation is expressed in an increase in glucose and ketone bodies, and is also accompanied by an increase in blood acidity. The formation of ketoacidosis, as a rule, passes in several stages. Initially, complications in the laboratory analysis of urine in the material revealed sugar. In the absence of any deviations, sugar in the urine should be absent.
At the second stage, metabolic disturbance activity is observed. These or other signs of intoxication are not excluded. At the same time, a person is in a depressed state, and his consciousness is confused. In laboratory tests, acetone is found in the urine. The next stage is distinguished by such signs:
- Depressed state.
- Cases of loss of consciousness.
- The state of stupor in humans.
With complications of diabetes, help should be provided immediately.
The third stage of ketoacidosis is called an ancestor. The next one, in turn, is life threatening, since it is already a coma. At this stage, there is a disorder in the activity of almost all organs along with a complete loss of consciousness and a violation of the metabolism. The cause of this complication is a violation of nutrition and medication, self-adjustment of the dose of drugs or refusal of them. Ketoacidosis may appear some time after the cessation of the use of sugar-lowering drugs. In addition, this condition can provoke one or another inflammatory or infectious pathology. During pregnancy, there is a risk of acute insulin deficiency, which can also cause coma.
Hypoglycemic coma
Complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus are as common as the first type of disease.
A complication such as hypoglycemic coma appears in patients with diabetes, regardless of its type. Unlike ketoacidosis, this condition provokes the appearance of excess insulin. True, cases of its occurrence after intense exertion or the use of excessive amounts of alcohol are known. This type of coma is characterized by a complete loss of consciousness along with profuse sweating. In this case, a low level of light response of the pupils may be noted. At the initial stage, the onset of coma can be prevented if you use the required amount of carbohydrates.
A complication of diabetes mellitus or hypoglycemic coma can occur completely suddenly. She is preceded by signs such as severe hunger along with anxiety, excess anxiety, increased pressure and an increase in pupils. Rarely noted are non-human behaviors with a sharp change in mood, headaches and visual impairment. There is a danger of death if the patient is not withdrawn from the coma within half an hour. During this time, cerebral edema is formed and metabolic disturbance occurs. As a result, death of the cerebral cortex is observed.
Hyperosmolar coma in diabetes
This type of complication is distinguished by its symptoms. With it, an increase in sodium compounds with glucose in the blood is noted. As a result of this combination, there is a violation of the nutrition of body cells. Most often, this condition occurs among people of advanced age.
At the initial stage of development of the hyperosmolar coma, dehydration and insulin deficiency are observed. Prolonged dehydration leads to the occurrence of secondary symptoms, such as impaired stool with nausea and vomiting, there is also a disorder in the activity of internal organs, accompanied by blood loss. The development of such a complication lasts for several weeks. At first, the symptoms characteristic of diabetes appear:
- A strong feeling of thirst.
- Weight loss.
- Frequent urination.
Loss of consciousness. In addition, at the initial stage, the occurrence of short-term convulsions with twitching of the limbs.
In the future, the disease has a progressive character. Loss of consciousness occurs more often and becomes coma. Hallucinations are also noted in some. Symptoms of hyperosmolar coma are very diverse. It can involve the nervous system and is expressed in the form of convulsions, accompanied by a partial or complete absence of any movement. There is also difficulty speaking. Such signs are also manifested in violation of the brain.
Treatment of complications of diabetes consists in the use of drugs, various detoxification solutions. Therapy should be comprehensive. In parallel with a decrease in the manifestations of hyperosmolar coma, it is required to influence the causes that caused it.
Consider the vascular complications of diabetes.
Diabetes mellitus and its late complications
Late complications of the disease include nephropathy, retinopathy, and diabetic foot syndrome that occur over an extended period of diabetes mellitus. Probably their manifestation after twenty years from the diagnosis.
Similar conditions arise gradually and are characteristic mainly for patients with type 2 diabetes. Rarely, late complications of diabetes are diagnosed in childhood.
Manifestations of diabetic nephropathy
This complication is manifested by impaired renal function and leads to renal failure. Pathology appears ten years after the detection of diabetes in a person. With type 1 disease, this complication is the main cause of death. Diabetic nephropathy usually goes through the following three stages:
- Observation of a small amount of protein in the urine.
- Observation of a significant amount of protein in the urine.
- The appearance of renal failure.
Treatment should be carried out already at the initial stage of pathology. Its purpose is the normalization of blood pressure. For this, compounds are used that normalize blood pressure and improve blood flow in the kidneys. At the next stage, insulin preparations are used, a salt-free diet is prescribed. In addition, they take medications to normalize blood pressure, the normal rate of which should be no more than 130/80 millimeters of mercury. In case of ineffectiveness of the prescribed drugs, others are selected.
Chronic renal failure is divided into two types: conservative and terminal. In the first type, its treatment is carried out without prescribing drugs. The basis of therapy is strict adherence to a diet along with limiting salt intake. In some situations, insulin may be prescribed.
Treatment of the second type is carried out in a hospital under the supervision of doctors. The measures are aimed at improving the patient's condition and involve hemodialysis. In more severe cases, an organ transplant is recommended.
Complications of diabetes on the legs
This complication is accompanied by damage to the nerve endings, and, in addition, the skin. The implications are as follows:
- The appearance of acute and chronic ulcers.
- The development of purulent processes.
- The need for amputation of limbs.
With the neuropathic type of disease, the longest nerves that lead to the limbs of the legs are the first to be affected . As a result of this, there is a violation of the supply of tissues with nutrients, which causes depletion, and, in addition, deformation of the feet. In addition, as a result of the uneven distribution of the load, an increase in some areas of the foot occurs, dense areas appear, tissue becomes inflamed, and ulcers subsequently form on this site. An ischemic form of pathology can lead to the development of atherosclerotic lesions of blood vessels and arteries. These are chronic complications of diabetes. The feet become blue, and in more rare cases, a red-pink hue. There is also a violation of blood circulation, and the legs become very cold to the touch.
The main direction in the prevention and treatment of complications of diabetes on the legs is timely and effective therapy. Also, moderate physical exertion will help minimize risks, along with dieting and regular medical examinations.
Prevention
As part of the prevention, in the presence of a disease such as diabetes mellitus, personal hygiene should be maintained, house order should be maintained, and clothing should be kept clean. Moderate physical activity and hardening will certainly help to reduce the likelihood of complications from diabetes. This will increase stamina with the body's resistance. Diagnosis of complications of diabetes should be timely.
Also, special attention should be paid to dental care. With this disease, the risk of caries and inflammatory processes of the gums increases several times. A dentist is required to visit at least once every six months.
Among other things, control over the state of the feet is also of great importance. With diabetes, the skin becomes dry, various cracks with ulcers form on it. In this regard, it is recommended to regularly take a bath with emollient oil, and after the procedure, rub the cream into the skin.
Doctors advise against using sharp objects, blades and scissors during leg treatment that could injure the skin, resulting in blood loss. In order to avoid the occurrence of any complications, experts recommend paying attention to all the symptoms that appear during the course of this disease. They should never be ignored. Often, timely access to a doctor and properly prescribed treatment help save a life.
Prevention of complications of diabetes is very important.
Treatment
Depending on the nature and severity of the pathology, outpatient or inpatient therapy is prescribed. Medicines are prescribed individually. The primary measure is, first of all, the correction of carbohydrate metabolism along with the restoration of the required glucose level to standard or close to normal values. The most important methods of self-monitoring include regular measurement of blood sugar. In this regard, doctors advise everyone to take sugar tests from time to time. It will also not be superfluous to buy your personal glucometer for taking measurements.
Complications of diabetes in children
The course of the disease in children is extremely labile; they especially have a tendency to develop dangerous conditions, such as hypoglycemia, ketoacidosis, and ketoacidotic coma.
Less common are complications such as hyperosmolar or lactic acidic (lactic acid) coma.
This pathology in childhood is a serious risk factor for the development of long-term consequences: diabetic microangiopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, cardiomyopathy, retinopathy, cataracts, early atherosclerosis, ischemia, etc.