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In Poland, one foot is amputated every hour. Very often due to complications from diabetes. World Day to fight this disease is celebrated on June 27.
– In the first pregnancy I gained seven kilos, in the next – twice as much. After the births, I did not return to my former form. I tried to lose weight, but as soon as I gave up the diet, I put on weight. I was 90 kg and 164 cm tall. Everyone around me was telling me that I would have problems with my blood pressure, cholesterol, sugar, joints. I had hypertension at the age of 39, in my forties, high sugar added – says Lidia, suffering from type 2 diabetes.
Lots of water, sweet blood
– Diabetes does not hurt. Only advanced forms of poorly balanced diabetes may, but not in all patients, result in painful polyneuropathy. This is the only symptom that patients may experience as a discomfort. However, the remaining symptoms are non-specific – says Anna Jeznach-Steinhagen, MD, PhD from the Medical Center of Mokotów.
The very name of the disease speaks of the symptoms of diabetes. In medical terminology, this is d. The first part comes from the Greek word for shedding or passing, and refers to symptoms such as increased thirst and frequent urination. The second part was added in the XNUMXth century by the English physician Thomas Willis. It literally translates as sweet as honey and is related to high sugar content in urine and blood.
When insulin production or function is impaired, the body’s cells are unable to absorb the glucose needed for energy production. By defending itself against hunger, the body begins to use its own fat reserves. He is losing weight. At the same time, however, a signal reaches his brain to eat more. Since the cells are still not opening up to glucose, the excess glucose has to be dissolved in water and excreted in the urine. Hence, the symptoms of diabetes include increased thirst and frequent use of the toilet.
– Other symptoms include tiredness and sleepiness. Most patients then think that they are overworked or sleepless. Therefore, very often the disease remains undiagnosed – says Anna Jeznach-Steinhagen, MD, PhD.
Lidia found out about the disease by accident. She was hospitalized due to hypertension. There, she was examined and another diagnosis was made. – The doctor explained that I have poor insulin sensitivity. This is type 2 diabetes, called non-insulin dependent – says Lidia.
Diabetes times four
Until recently, doctors distinguished two types of diabetes: 1 and 2. The first results from a lack of insulin due to autoimmunity – the body destroys the cells of the pancreas in such a way that it does not produce this hormone. Therefore, patients with type 1 diabetes must supply themselves with insulin from the outside throughout their lives. The disease occurs mainly in children and young people, but its causes are still unknown.
In contrast to type 1, type 2 diabetes is characterized not by a lack of insulin, but by the lack of sensitivity of the body’s cells to its effects. Obesity and hypertension often go hand in hand with the disease. Type 2 diabetes grows slowly. Sometimes a person does not recognize that something is wrong for several years. And he finds out about the diagnosis by accident. Treatment begins with diabetes medications, exercise, and a proper diet.
According to the latest criteria of the Polish Diabetes Society, there are other types of diabetes. – We have gestational diabetes which occurs during pregnancy and resolves after the puerperium. And other types of diabetes: steroid, atypical, etc. – explains Anna Jeznach-Steinhagen, MD, PhD.
Compared to type 2 diabetes, the scale of the other types is incomparably smaller. On the so-called nearly 80 percent of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. diabetics. According to doctors, this group of people may grow in the future. It is favored by the modern way of life.
One step away from diabetes
According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), one person in the world learns that they have diabetes every five seconds, and that someone dies of complications every ten seconds. The disease is called the silent killer, the pain of civilization, the plague of the present day. According to the WHO, epidemiologically the future will be even worse: in the 300st century we will face an epidemic of diabetes. Worldwide, the number of patients may reach 4 million, in Poland – approx. XNUMX million. Today’s lifestyle is blamed for this: poor diet, sedentary work, insufficient physical activity, use of stimulants, but also genetic burden.
Almost 3 million diabetics already live in Poland, and the same number has pre-diabetes. In pre-diabetes, the body has a reduced ability to metabolize glucose but does not yet meet the criteria for diabetes. It is detected on the basis of research. As explained by Dr. Anna Jeznach-Steinhagen, MD, it is about measuring the patient’s fasting blood glucose or performing a glucose load test. – Pre-diabetes is reversible as much as possible. If the patient reduces body weight, changes the diet, increases physical activity – adds the diabetologist.
Doctors also recommend that people who are at risk have blood tests for glucose at least once a year. And at risk are people over 45, obese or overweight, have heart disease or high blood pressure, have a family history of diabetes, and patients who have had polycystic ovary syndrome, diabetes during pregnancy, or have had a child weighing more than 4 kg.
Treatment is crucial
– Even if diabetes is treated, but not properly balanced, we may be dealing with microangiopathy or macroangiopathy. Macroangiopathy increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes and embolisms. Microangiopathy concerns complications of the eyes, kidneys or diabetic foot – says Anna Jeznach-Steinhagen, MD, PhD. A diabetic foot is an ulcer on the foot that results from abnormal vascular and nerve function. – There is a disturbed blood supply in this area, feeling in this place. A swelling develops that does not heal. The ulcer state promotes the multiplication of bacteria. It is an infection bomb that can explode at any time and spread bacteria throughout the body – says the diabetologist. In this case, an amputation is needed.
When Lidia was in the hospital, she met a man in the ward, also a diabetic. – After a few days I was released, and they took him for a foot amputation operation. He suffered terribly – says the woman. She got scared because the diabetic foot affects a dozen or so percent of diabetics, mainly type 2 diabetics. The most common cause is poor treatment.