What causes diabetes mellitus | Types of diabetes | Symptoms | Ways to prevent the development of the disease | The negative effects | Number of patients
Diabetes is a serious disease that kills more than a million people every year, and it can manifest itself in any of us.
This endocrine disease is manifested when the level of glucose in the blood exceeds that which our body is able to “cope” with. Thickening of the blood occurs, which can subsequently cause myocardial infarction, cerebral stroke, loss of vision, renal dysfunction and tissue necrosis of the lower extremities.
The number of people suffering from diabetes is constantly increasing — at present, according to the information of the World Health Organization, about 422 million people with diabetes live around the world. This number is almost four times that of four decades ago.
Nevertheless, despite the level of danger of this endocrine disease for our health, about half of people with diabetes are not aware of its presence. However, in some cases it is possible to prevent the onset of insulin deficiency by simply changing your lifestyle and adjusting your eating habits. This is not difficult to achieve.
What causes diabetes mellitus?
Every time after a meal, our body begins to break down the incoming carbohydrate compounds into glucose. In order for sugar to be absorbed, a sufficient amount of insulin is necessary — a hormone that is produced in the pancreas and allows the cells of the body to start absorbing glucose from the blood and use it as an energy source for their vital functions.
The onset of diabetes mellitus occurs under the following conditions:
- cessation of hormone production;
- impaired function performed by insulin;
- As a result, the accumulation of sugar in the blood begins.
Types of diabetes
Type I diabetes mellitus is characterized by the cessation of insulin production in the pancreas, as a result of the accumulation of sugar in the blood. In most cases, this type is detected in early childhood or adolescents.
Unfortunately, until now, an unambiguous reason for its occurrence has not been established. Suggestions have been made about a hereditary predisposition or the transfer of a viral disease that can damage the pancreas, which is responsible for the production of the necessary hormone. About 10% of people with diabetes are type I.
Type I diabetes mellitus is characterized by the cessation of insulin production in the pancreas.
Type II diabetes mellitus is characterized by an incomplete cessation of insulin production, but its decrease to an insufficient amount or a violation of its effective work due to some interference.
In most cases, it occurs in middle-aged or older people, but like many diseases, type II diabetes is “getting younger” — now it is diagnosed at a younger age, especially if a person is obese or leads an unhealthy lifestyle — little exercise. Some peoples living in South Asia are especially prone to this type.
Type II diabetes mellitus is characterized by an incomplete cessation of insulin production.
In a separate type of diabetes mellitus can be made “gestational” — which occurs in pregnant women in the event that the amount of insulin that is produced by their pancreas is not enough for themselves and for the unborn child.
Taking into account different evaluation criteria, it is diagnosed in 6-16% of women. From this point on, they need more careful monitoring and should regularly monitor their blood glucose levels. In order to maintain it within normal limits, they should adhere to a special diet, exercise, if there are no contraindications from a gynecologist, and in more serious cases, resort to insulin injection therapy. Otherwise, they may subsequently develop type II diabetes.
There is also a state of “prediabetes” in which there is an increase in blood sugar, as a result of which the development of type II diabetes mellitus may occur.
Symptoms of diabetes
- feeling of thirst
- increased urination at night;
- increased fatigue;
- wanton weight loss;
- deterioration of vision;
- long-term healing of even minor cuts and scratches.
The symptoms of type I diabetes mellitus appear at an earlier age and are more pronounced.
People over the age of 40, their close blood relatives, as well as those who are obese are at risk for the development of type II diabetes. For peoples living in South Asia, the risk age has been reduced to 25 years.
Are there ways to prevent the development of the disease?
The likelihood of developing insulin deficiency in you is in direct proportion to the hereditary predisposition and factors of the surrounding world. But each of us is able to keep the amount of blood glucose within acceptable limits through proper nutrition and sufficient physical activity.
Replacing refined sugar with fruit, and pasta and bakery products made from wheat flour with products made from whole wheat flour and unrefined cereals can help reduce the risk of disease. At the same time, it is necessary to reduce, and then completely stop, the use of confectionery products and sweet soda.
Foods containing refined cane sugar and refined grains are less nutritious because they are contained in grain hulls. Unhealthy food products also include wheat flour — bakery, confectionery and pasta made from it, white rice and pasta, sweet soda, various sweets and breakfast cereals containing sugar.
A healthy diet includes fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains, vegetable and olive oils, nuts, and fish, which are high in omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids such as sardines, salmon and mackerel.
It is necessary to strictly follow the diet and eat at regular intervals to prevent overeating!
Exercise also helps lower blood glucose levels. It is necessary to conduct classes on a regular basis. Most doctors advise you to engage in light physical activity, such as walking, walking at a brisk pace, and walking upstairs, for at least two and a half hours.
Your body can more easily keep your blood glucose levels within the normal range if you are not overweight. However, in order to avoid harm to health, you should not strive for instant weight loss — lose weight gradually, weight loss should not exceed 0.5-1.0 kilograms per week.
The negative effects of diabetes
Due to the prolonged increase in the amount of glucose in the blood, damage to the blood vessels occurs.
Due to the increased density of blood, it cannot flow freely to the vessels — it becomes unable to reach some of the tissues at all. Because of this, the likelihood of disturbances in the nervous tissue increases — sensitivity in the periphery decreases, vision deteriorates, and the risk of developing various diseases of the lower extremities, including of an infectious nature, increases.
According to the statistics of the World Health Organization, it is due to diabetes that the development of most cases of blindness, myocardial infarction, cerebral strokes, necrosis of the tissues of the legs with their subsequent amputation and pathologies from the kidneys occurs.
In 2016 alone, complications from diabetes caused more than 1.6 million deaths.
How many people are suffering from diabetes?
According to information provided by the World Health Organization, during the period 1980-2014, the number of people with diabetes on our planet increased from 108 million to 422 million. Thus, in 1980, less than 5% of adults were diagnosed with diabetes, and in 2014 this number was already 8.5%.
If you believe the statistics available to the International Federation of Diabetes Mellitus, almost 80% of people who have been diagnosed with this endocrinological pathology live in countries with low or middle income.
In more highly developed countries, diabetes mellitus is diagnosed much more often in those people who live on the verge of poverty and / or are forced to eat cheap semi-prepared foods.