Insulin hormone deficiency is a disease that has been known to mankind since ancient times, but despite the speed of development of medical technologies, it is extremely difficult to recognize new knowledge about the disease in its early stages. Many patients are not even aware of the presence of diabetes mellitus, attributing the symptoms to hormonal changes in the body and other diseases. Diabetes mellitus negatively affects health and metabolic processes, so it is extremely important to recognize it as early as possible and start timely treatment.
What is diabetes mellitus?
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic endocrine disease that results from a lack of insulin. The hormone that synthesizes the pancreas participates in the breakdown of sugar and the transport of glucose through the blood to the tissues of the organs in order to provide the body with additional energy. In the case of insulin deficiency, the sugar level rises significantly, which negatively affects the whole body.
Reasons for the development of diseases
The disease most often occurs in the presence of the following causes or preconditions:
- Hereditary predisposition, especially if the father suffers from diabetes, the probability of developing the disease in children is much higher than if the disease is observed in the mother.
- Improper diet - abuse of foods rich in calories, glucose and carbohydrates.
- The presence of excess weight, and with the second and subsequent stages of obesity, the likelihood of developing diabetes mellitus increases by 80%.
- Lack of physical activity, poor human activity.
- Frequent experiences of stressful situations or long-term depression. Severe shock or nervous breakdown can also cause illness.
- Long-term use of drugs of a certain group, for example, hormonal, diuretic or choleretic.
- The presence of a viral infection in the body (chickenpox, influenza, rubella).
Symptoms of the disease
Warning signals that prove the presence of the disease include:
- Constant feeling of thirst, which does not disappear even after heavy drinking.
- Frequent urination, especially at night. It causes some discomfort and discomfort, disrupts the established way of life.
- Drops of urine remain on the bedding, which, when dried, resemble traces of dried starch (white and thick stains).
- The person complains of fatigue and drowsiness.
- Vision is sharply reduced, all objects are blurred.
- Often accompanied by a feeling of tingling and numbness, especially in the palms and soles.
- Slow and very poor healing of wounds, even the smallest and most insignificant ones.
- The patient is worried about the itching, which is especially intense in the groin area.
- Sudden weight loss for no other obvious reason.
- Strong hunger that is hard to satisfy.
It is important to remember that many symptoms appear when there is a lack of insulin in the body and irreversible processes of pancreatic hormone production disorders have begun. It is extremely difficult to diagnose the disease in the initial phase, so 80% of patients are not aware of the presence of the disease.
Types of diabetes
There are 2 types of diabetes mellitus, which have characteristic differences despite some similarities.
- Type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent) is a disease characterized by the death of pancreatic beta cells, whose main role is insulin production. As a result of this process, there is a lack of hormones, which causes diabetes. Causes of the development of the disease include violation of the immune system, the presence of a viral infection in the human body. As a rule, this type of disease affects children and adolescents. The only treatment options for this disease are regular injections of insulin for the rest of your life.
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a disease that affects people over the age of thirty and develops as a result of a lack of perception of the body, tissue cells and insulin-producing organs of the pancreas. Due to the body's improper response to the hormone, glucose accumulates in the blood and causes a course of negative processes in the body. In case of untimely treatment, insulin production stops completely, because increased blood glucose levels negatively affect beta cells and contribute to their destruction.
Diagnosis of diabetes
To diagnose the disease, you must go to a clinic and visit an endocrinologist who specializes in this disease. The following procedures and examinations are performed for testing:
- Fasting blood test to determine blood sugar levels. In some cases, when the patient is at risk of disease, a stress test is performed to determine glucose tolerance.
- Conducting a urine test for sugar content and determining its level. A urine test for acetone may also be done.
- It is also important to conduct an analysis for the incorporation of glycated hemoglobin, which will help determine the average blood glucose in the last three months.
- It is important to remember that diabetes is a chronic disease that cannot be cured, so regular maintenance therapy is needed to maintain a normal state.
Treatment of diseases
The main treatment for type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent) is regular insulin injections. Thanks to modern medical instruments, injections have become much easier, using insulin pumps and pens. Insulin dosage is determined individually for each patient and it is not recommended to change it yourself. The amount of insulin depends on the blood sugar level, the presence of other concomitant diseases (for example, obesity), the patient's lifestyle.
In case of incomplete pancreatic insufficiency, the doctor may prescribe drugs that can stimulate the production of hormones in the human body. Other groups of drugs that eliminate insulin resistance and help maintain human health can be used to eliminate insulin resistance in the body. An important factor is adherence to a special diet, in which foods are selected with a minimum content of sugar, carbohydrates, and also stimulate the pancreas.
Disease prevention
In order to avoid the development of the disease, it is important to follow the recommendations of endocrinologists, who will help maintain health and do not belong to the risk group. Preventive methods include:
- Regular blood sugar testing is especially recommended for people at risk. People over the age of forty should conduct this study regularly, at least twice a year.
- Changing eating habits, switching to a balanced diet with a predominance of healthy foods - low-glucose fruits, vegetables, fish, lean meats. In addition, it is recommended to adhere to a diet and divide food intake into three equal meals and several snacks.
- Performing simple physical exercises on a daily basis that will help normalize body weight and reduce the likelihood of developing diabetes.
- Normalization of body weight, which will help reduce the likelihood of developing the disease.