The disease is accompanied by a violation of all types of metabolism, and primarily hydrocarbon. The basis of the disease is the lack of insulin in the body. This hormone promotes the absorption of sugar by tissues, converting it into glycogen. In addition, the presence of insulin reduces the formation of sugar in the liver from proteins. With a lack of insulin, carbohydrates from food are completely absorbed by tissues and excreted in the urine.
Reasons for the formation of diabetes
Diabetes mellitus usually develops due to a disorder of the pancreas function, more precisely those cells that produce the hormone (type 1 diabetes, called absolute insulin deficiency).
However, to date, it has been found that the disease can occur with an acceptable or even excessive insulin content in the blood. This is a syndrome of relative insulin deficiency, caused by a disorder in the circulation of insulin in the body, enhanced by its breakdown, a decrease in tissue sensitivity to insulin, an increase in the body’s content of hormones — insulin antagonists.
Therefore, finding out the cause of the disease, the doctor examines:
- pancreas;
- pituitary;
- the thyroid gland;
- adrenal glands.
Often, diabetes mellitus is found in people suffering from thyrotoxicosis or other diseases of the endocrine system.
Very often the onset of diabetes is preceded by an infection:
- scarlet fever;
- whooping cough;
- parotitis;
- flu (in children);
- angina;
- erysipelas;
- syphilis;
- tuberculosis (in adults).
During outbreaks of acute infectious diseases, there are temporary disruptions of carbohydrate metabolism (an increase in blood sugar, its appearance in the urine). Usually these phenomena disappear with the disappearance of the underlying disease. But sometimes, disorders of the pancreas function remain after infection, and clinically significant diabetes mellitus develops. Then it is fair to think that the infection was only a pretext for revealing the veiled signs of diabetes.
Disorders of the pancreas function remain after infection and clinically significant diabetes mellitus develops.
Heredity plays a significant role. It has been noticed that the disease occurs much more often in families with diabetes patients.
So, the provoking factors are:
- Obesity.
- Pregnancy.
- Injury.
- Infection.
For some, the signs of diabetes appear at the time of consuming large amounts of foods rich in carbohydrates and fats. Excessively saturated nutrition with low physical activity inevitably leads to obesity, impaired liver and pancreas function.
Sometimes diabetes occurs after mental trauma (death of a loved one, fear, etc.) or chronic emotional stress. However, the claim that this factor is the root cause of diabetes is incorrect.
Sometimes diabetes occurs after mental trauma or chronic emotional stress.
Mental trauma can only be the impetus for its development in a person with a tendency to diabetes. Two factors interact — congenital predisposition, as well as the effect of external conditions.
By the way, in 3-10% of patients with acute pancreatitis (pancreas becomes inflamed), diabetes mellitus is revealed. It may occur after a surgical operation associated with tumors, cysts, trauma to the pancreas.
Sclerotic damage to the vessels of the pancreas, which occurs with atherosclerosis, causes malnutrition of the cells that produce insulin, and lead to diabetes mellitus. This form of the disease is more common in older people.