It turns out that more than half of patients do not know about their diagnosis. The expert spoke about the risk factors for diabetes and how to live with it.
February 17 2019
D.M. Sc., Professor of the Department of Hospital Therapy No. 1 FSBEI HE MGMSU them. A.I. Evdokimova of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Head of the Diabetology Course at FGBOU DPO IPK FMBA of Russia (FGBUZ KB No. 85 FMBA of Russia).
Alarm bell
The classic symptoms of type 1 diabetes mellitus include thirst, weakness, itching, and increased urination. But, unfortunately, these signs appear at a time when blood glucose levels are already very high. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is gaining momentum smoothly, and for a long time (sometimes up to 10 years) the patient has no complaints of well-being, and he is unaware of the disease. This is confirmed by the data of the All-Russian epidemiological study NATION, carried out at the initiative of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “National Medical Research Center of Endocrinology” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. It showed that 54% of people with type 2 diabetes are unaware of their disease.
Quiet enemy
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a disease in which the immune system malfunctions and attacks the cells of its own body. It usually occurs in children, adolescents and young adults. Within a short time, the beta cells that produce insulin disappear in the body.
Type 2 diabetes is more common. Breakdowns of a different type occur in the body. They are associated with obesity, which leads to a weakening of the action of insulin. As a result, blood glucose levels rise.
There is also gestational diabetes. It develops only in expectant mothers while carrying a baby; after his birth, the problem disappears. To identify the disease at the 24th week of pregnancy, a special test is carried out. There are other types of diabetes, but these are rare.
Risk Factors
Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented because it is an autoimmune problem. The prerequisites for type 2 diabetes can be divided into two large groups: external and internal.
The former include a genetic predisposition (the presence of a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus in direct relatives), metabolic disorders caused by abdominal obesity. With it, fatty tissue is deposited in the abdomen (waist). The risk factor is diabetes during pregnancy or signs that indirectly indicate that it was during pregnancy (for example, the weight of a child from 4 kg at birth).
External factors include malnutrition with a predominance of a large amount of refined foods, animal fats and unnatural food in the diet, a sedentary lifestyle. Interestingly, the psycho-emotional state can also affect the onset of the disease.
According to the latest research by American specialists, chronic stress can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus by 25%.
Diabetes diet
If the disease has begun, it is necessary to follow all the recommendations of the endocrinologist. It is important to follow the diet. It is necessary to exclude potentially harmful products: animal fat, refined carbohydrates. The more natural the menu, the better. There is such a common misconception that the sick should not eat sweets. In fact, they first of all need to be wary of refined products. For example, a baked apple contains no refined sugar. And in unsweetened instant noodles, the amount of refined carbohydrates is off scale.
With a tendency to be overweight or if you are already overweight, you need to monitor the calorie content of foods. If the patient, as soon as he fell ill, managed to reduce body weight using special techniques and surgical methods, diabetes can recede.
It is better to eat fractionally and in small portions. You should not use intermittent fasting, a technique in which you cannot eat during certain periods. Their duration is from 12 to 36 hours.
Ambulance for your aquarium
With improper treatment or non-compliance with the doctor’s recommendations, the patient may have an attack. It can proceed in different ways. One of the most common options is hypoglycemia, a condition characterized by low blood sugar levels. The main symptoms are increased sweating, confusion, dizziness, tremors, and a sharp feeling of hunger. It is necessary to sharply raise the sugar. If this is not done, then the patient may lose consciousness and fall into a coma. Taking glucose tablets or a piece of refined sugar helps. If the person is already unconscious, do not try to give him food, it can cause suffocation. Call a doctor, he will give an injection that will bring the patient to his senses.
The second possible situation is diabetic coma (ketoacidosis). A life-threatening condition in which acetone appears in the blood. Its scent becomes perceptible. In this case, it is important to immediately call an ambulance. The acetone level will be measured using special test strips. If the indicators are dangerous, hospitalization and treatment with insulin will be required.