Diabetes and its symptoms. Symptoms and laboratory signs of diabetes mellitus: forewarned is forearmed

Diabetes mellitus is a group of diseases of the endocrine system that develop due to the lack or absence of insulin (hormone) in the body, resulting in a significant increase in the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood (hyperglycemia). It manifests itself as a feeling of thirst, an increase in the amount of urine excreted, increased appetite, weakness, dizziness, slow healing of wounds, etc. The disease is chronic, often with a progressive course.

A timely diagnosis gives the patient a chance to delay the onset of severe complications. But it is not always possible to recognize the first signs of diabetes. This is due to people's lack of basic knowledge about this disease and the low level of patients seeking medical help.

What is diabetes mellitus?

Diabetes mellitus is a disease of the endocrine system caused by an absolute or relative deficiency in the body of insulin, a pancreatic hormone, resulting in hyperglycemia (a persistent increase in blood glucose).

The meaning of the word “diabetes” in Greek is “expiration”. Therefore, the term “diabetes mellitus” means “losing sugar.” In this case, the main symptom of the disease is displayed - the excretion of sugar in the urine.

About 10% of the world's population suffers from diabetes, however, if we take into account the hidden forms of the disease, this figure can be 3-4 times higher. It develops as a result of chronic insulin deficiency and is accompanied by disorders of carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism.

At least 25% of people with diabetes are unaware of their disease. They calmly go about their business, do not pay attention to the symptoms, and at this time diabetes gradually destroys their body.

High blood sugar levels can cause dysfunction of almost all organs, including death. The higher the blood sugar level, the more obvious the result of its action, which is expressed in:

• obesity;
• glycosylation (sugarification) of cells;
• intoxication of the body with damage to the nervous system;
• damage to blood vessels;
• development of secondary diseases affecting the brain, heart, liver, lungs, organs
• Gastrointestinal tract, muscles, skin, eyes;
• manifestations of fainting states, coma;
• lethal outcome.

Causes

There are many causes of diabetes mellitus, which are based on a general disruption of the functioning of the body’s endocrine system, based either on a deficiency of insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, or on the inability of the liver and body tissues to properly process and absorb glucose.

Due to a lack of this hormone In the body, the concentration of glucose levels in the blood constantly increases, which leads to metabolic disorders, since insulin performs an important function in controlling the processing of glucose in all cells and tissues of the body.

One of the reasons is a predisposition that is inherited. If a person has diabetics in his family, then he has a certain risk of also getting this disease, especially if he leads an incorrect lifestyle. The reasons for the development of diabetes mellitus, even in those who do not have a predisposition to it, can be:

• unhealthy diet and sugar abuse;
• stress and various psycho-emotional stress; suffered a serious illness;
• liver dysfunction; lifestyle change;
• excess weight;
• hard work, etc.

Many people believe that diabetes occurs in people with a sweet tooth. This is largely a myth, but there is also some truth, if only because excess consumption of sweets results in excess weight, and subsequently obesity, which can be an impetus for type 2 diabetes.

The risk factors contributing to the development of this disease in children are similar in some respects to the factors listed above, but they also have their own characteristics. Let us highlight the main factors:

• the birth of a child to parents with diabetes (if one or both of them has this disease);
• frequent occurrence of viral diseases in a child;
• the presence of certain metabolic disorders (obesity, etc.);
• the child’s birth weight is 4.5 kg or more;
• reduced immunity.

Important: the older a person gets, the higher the likelihood of the disease in question occurring. According to statistics, every 10 years the chances of developing diabetes double.

Types

Due to the fact that diabetes mellitus has many different etiologies, symptoms, complications, and, of course, types of treatment, experts have created a fairly comprehensive formula for classifying this disease. Let's consider the types, types and degrees of diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus type 1

Type 1 diabetes, which is associated with an absolute deficiency of the hormone insulin, usually appears acutely, abruptly, and quickly turns into a state of ketoacidosis, which can lead to ketoacidotic coma. It most often manifests itself in young people: as a rule, most of these patients are under thirty years of age. This form of the disease affects approximately 10-15% of all diabetic patients.

It is almost impossible to completely recover from type 1 diabetes, although there are cases of restoration of pancreatic function, but this is only possible under special conditions and a natural, raw diet.

To maintain the body, insulin is required to be injected into the body using a syringe. Since insulin is destroyed in the gastrointestinal tract, taking insulin in tablet form is impossible. Insulin is administered along with meals.

Type 2 diabetes

The second type, previously called insulin-independent, but this definition is not accurate, since insulin replacement therapy may be required as this type progresses. In this type of disease, insulin levels initially remain normal or even higher than normal.

However, the cells of the body, primarily adipocytes (fat cells), become insensitive to it, which leads to an increase in glucose levels in the blood.

Degrees

This differentiation helps to quickly understand what is happening to the patient at different stages of the disease:

1. 1st degree (mild). Stage 1 diabetes mellitus is at the initial stage, that is, the glucose level does not exceed more than 6.0 mol/liter. The patient is completely free of any complications of diabetes mellitus; it is compensated by diet and special medications.
2. 2nd degree (medium). Stage 2 diabetes is more dangerous and severe as glucose levels begin to exceed the normal amount. Also, the normal functioning of organs is disrupted, more precisely: kidneys, eyes, heart, blood and nerve tissues. Also, blood sugar levels reach more than 7.0 mol/liter.
3. 3rd degree (severe). The disease is at a more acute stage, so it will be difficult to cure with medications and insulin. Sugar and glucose exceed 10-14 mol/liter, which means that circulatory function will deteriorate and blood rings may collapse, causing blood and heart diseases.
4. 4th degree. The most severe course of diabetes mellitus is characterized by high glucose levels - up to 25 mmol/l, both glucose and protein are excreted in the urine, the condition is not corrected by any medications. With this degree of the disease in question, kidney failure, gangrene of the lower extremities, and diabetic ulcers are often diagnosed.

The first signs of diabetes

The first signs of diabetes are usually associated with elevated blood sugar levels. Normally, this indicator in capillary blood on an empty stomach does not exceed 5.5 mmol/l, and during the day - 7.8 mmol/l. If the average daily sugar level becomes more than 9-13 mmol/l, then the patient may experience the first complaints.

Some signs make it easy to recognize diabetes at an early stage. A minor change in condition that anyone can notice often indicates the development of the first or second type of this disease.

Signs to look out for:

• Excessive and frequent urination (about every hour)
• Itching of the skin and genitals.
• Extreme thirst or increased need to drink a lot of fluids.
• Dry mouth.
• Poor wound healing.
• First, a lot of weight, then its subsequent decrease due to impaired absorption of food, especially carbohydrates.

If signs of diabetes are detected, the doctor excludes other diseases with similar complaints (insipidus, nephrogenic, hyperparathyroidism and others). Next, an examination is carried out to determine the cause of diabetes and its type. In some typical cases this task is not difficult, but sometimes additional examination is required.

Symptoms of diabetes

The severity of symptoms depends entirely on the following parameters: the level of decrease in insulin secretion, the duration of the disease, and the individual characteristics of the patient’s body.

There is a complex of symptoms characteristic of both types of diabetes. The severity of the symptoms depends on the degree of decrease in insulin secretion, the duration of the disease and the individual characteristics of the patient:

• Constant thirst and frequent urination. The more the patient drinks, the more he wants it;
• With increased appetite, weight is lost quickly;
• A “white veil” appears before the eyes, as the blood supply to the retina is disrupted;
• Disorders of sexual activity and decreased potency are common signs of diabetes;
• Frequent colds (ARVI, acute respiratory infections) occur in patients due to a decrease in the functions of the immune system. Against this background, there is slow healing of wounds, dizziness and heaviness in the legs;
• Constant cramps in the calf muscles are a consequence of a lack of energy during the work of the muscular system.

Diabetes mellitus type 1

Patients may complain of the following symptoms with type 1 diabetes: feeling of dry mouth; constant unquenchable thirst; a sharp decrease in body weight with normal appetite; increased number of urinations per day; unpleasant acetone odor from the mouth; irritability, general malaise, fatigue; blurred vision; feeling of heaviness in the lower extremities; convulsions; nausea and vomiting; reduced temperature; dizziness.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by: general complaints: fatigue, blurred vision, memory problems; problematic skin: itching, frequent fungi, wounds and any damage does not heal well; thirst - up to 3-5 liters of fluid per day; a person often gets up to write at night; ulcers on the legs and feet, numbness or tingling in the legs, pain when walking; in women - thrush, which is difficult to treat; in the later stages of the disease - losing weight without dieting; diabetes occurs without symptoms - in 50% of patients; loss of vision, kidney disease, sudden heart attack, stroke.

How does diabetes manifest itself in women?

• Sharp loss of body weight- a sign that should be alarming, if the diet is not followed, the same appetite remains. Weight loss occurs due to a deficiency of insulin, which is necessary to deliver glucose to fat cells.
• Thirst. Diabetic ketoacidosis causes uncontrollable thirst. However, even if you drink a large amount of liquid, dry mouth remains.
• Fatigue . A feeling of physical exhaustion, which in some cases has no apparent reason.
• Increased appetite(polyphagia). A special behavior in which the body does not become full even after eating a sufficient amount of food. Polyphagia is the main symptom of impaired glucose metabolism in diabetes mellitus.
• Metabolic disorders in a woman’s body leads to disruption of the body’s microflora. The first signs of the development of metabolic disorders are vaginal infections, which practically cannot be cured.
• Non-healing wounds turning into ulcers are characteristic first signs of diabetes mellitus in girls and women
• Osteoporosis accompanies insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, because the lack of this hormone directly affects the formation of bone tissue.

Signs of diabetes in men

The main signs that diabetes is developing in men are the following:

• the occurrence of general weakness and a significant decrease in performance;
• the appearance of itching on the skin, especially the skin in the genital area;
• sexual disorders, progression of inflammatory processes and development of impotence;
• a feeling of thirst, dry mouth and a constant feeling of hunger;
• the appearance of ulcerative formations on the skin that do not heal for a long time;
• frequent urge to urinate;
• tooth decay and baldness.

Complications

Diabetes in itself does not pose a threat to human life. Its complications and their consequences are dangerous. It is impossible not to mention some of them, which either occur frequently or pose an immediate danger to the patient’s life.

First of all, the most acute forms of complications should be noted. For the life of every diabetic, such complications pose the greatest danger, because they can lead to death.

Acute complications mean:

• ketoacidosis;
• hyperosmolar coma;
• hypoglycemia;
• lactic acidotic coma.

Acute complications during diabetes are identical in both children and adults

Chronic complications include the following:

• diabetic encephalopathy;
• skin lesions in the form of follicles and structural changes directly in the epidermis;
• diabetic foot or hand syndrome;
• nephropathy;
• retinopathy.

Prevention of complications

Preventive measures include:

• weight control - if the patient feels that he is gaining extra pounds, then he needs to contact a nutritionist and get advice on creating a rational menu;
• constant physical activity - your doctor will tell you how intense it should be;
• constant monitoring of blood pressure levels.

Preventing complications for diabetes mellitus, it is possible with constant treatment and careful monitoring of blood glucose levels.

Diagnostics

Diabetes mellitus manifests itself gradually in a person, therefore, doctors distinguish three periods of its development.

1. In people who are prone to the disease due to the presence of certain risk factors, the so-called period of prediabetes occurs.
2. If glucose is already absorbed with disturbances, but signs of the disease have not yet appeared, then the patient is diagnosed with a period of latent diabetes mellitus.
3. The third period is the immediate development of the disease.

If diabetes is suspected, this diagnosis must be either confirmed or refuted. There are a number of laboratory and instrumental methods for this. These include:

• Determination of blood glucose levels. The normal value is 3.3–5.5 mmol/l.
• Glucose level in urine. Normally, sugar in the urine is not detected.
• Blood test for the content of glycosylated hemoglobin. The norm is 4–6%.
• IRI (immunoreactive insulin). The normal value is 86–180 nmol/l. In type I diabetes it is reduced, in type II diabetes it is normal or increased.
• Urinalysis - to diagnose kidney damage.
• Skin capillaroscopy, Doppler ultrasound – to diagnose vascular damage.
• Fundus examination to diagnose retinal lesions.

Blood Sugar Level

What sugar levels are considered normal?

• 3.3 - 5.5 mmol/l is the normal blood sugar level, regardless of your age.
• 5.5 - 6 mmol/l is prediabetes, impaired glucose tolerance.
• 6. 5 mmol/l and above is already diabetes mellitus.

To confirm the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, repeated measurements of sugar in the blood plasma are required at different times of the day. Measurements are best carried out in a medical laboratory and self-monitoring devices should not be trusted, as they have a significant measurement error.

Please note: To exclude false positive results, you need to not only measure your blood sugar level, but also conduct a glucose tolerance test (a blood test with a sugar load).

The norms are given in the table (measurement value – mmol/l):

Result evaluation	capillary blood	venous blood
Norm
Fasting blood glucose test	3,5-5,5	3,5-6,1
After taking glucose (after 2 hours) or after eating	less than 7.8	less than 7.8
Prediabetes
On an empty stomach	from 5.6 to 6.1	from 6 to 7.1
After glucose or after meals	7,8-11,1	7,8-11,1
On an empty stomach	more than 6.1	more than 7
After glucose or after meals	over 11.1	over 11.1

All patients with diabetes must be consulted by the following specialists:

• Endocrinologist;
• Cardiologist;
• Neuropathologist;
• Ophthalmologist;
• Surgeon (vascular or special doctor - pediatrician);

How to treat diabetes in adults?

Doctors prescribe comprehensive treatment for diabetes to ensure that blood glucose levels are maintained at normal levels. In this case, it is important to take into account that neither hyperglycemia, that is, an increase in sugar levels, nor hypoglycemia, that is, its fall, should be allowed.

Before starting treatment, it is necessary to conduct an accurate diagnosis of the body, because a positive prognosis for recovery depends on this.

Treatment of diabetes is aimed at:

• decreased blood sugar levels;
• normalization of metabolism;
• preventing the development of diabetes complications.

Treatment with insulin drugs

Insulin drugs for the treatment of diabetes mellitus are divided into 4 categories, based on duration of action:

• Ultra-short-acting (onset of action - after 15 minutes, duration of action - 3-4 hours): insulin LizPro, insulin aspart.
• Fast-acting (onset of action - after 30 minutes - 1 hour; duration of action 6-8 hours).
• Medium duration of action (onset of action - after 1–2.5 hours, duration of action 14–20 hours).
• Long-acting (onset of action – after 4 hours; duration of action up to 28 hours).

Insulin prescription regimens are strictly individual and are selected for each patient by a diabetes doctor or endocrinologist.

The key to effective diabetes treatment is careful control of blood sugar levels. However, it is impossible to take laboratory tests several times a day. Portable glucometers will come to the rescue; they are compact, easy to take with you and check your glucose levels where necessary.

The interface in Russian facilitates checking, marks before and after meals. The devices are extremely easy to use, and they are characterized by accurate measurements. You can keep your diabetes under control with a portable glucose meter

Diet

The basic principles of diet therapy include:

• strictly individual selection of daily caloric intake, complete exclusion of easily digestible carbohydrates;
• strictly calculated content of physiological amounts of fats, proteins, vitamins and carbohydrates;
• fractional meals with evenly distributed carbohydrates and calories.

In the diet used for diabetes mellitus, the ratio of carbohydrates, fats and proteins should be as close as possible to physiological:

• 50 - 60% of total calories should come from carbohydrates,
• 25 – 30% for fats,
• 15 - 20% for proteins.

Also, the diet should contain per kilogram of body weight at least 4 - 4.5 g of carbohydrates, 1 - 1.5 g of protein and 0.75 - 1.5 g of fat in a daily dosage.

The diet for the treatment of diabetes mellitus (table No. 9) is aimed at normalizing carbohydrate metabolism and preventing fat metabolism disorders.

Physical activity

Regular exercise will help lower your blood sugar levels. In addition, physical activity will help you lose excess weight.

It is not necessary to jog or go to the gym every day; it is enough to do at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity 3 times a week. Daily walks will be very useful. Even if you work on your garden plot several days a week, this will have a positive effect on your well-being.

Folk remedies

Before using traditional methods for diabetes mellitus, it is possible only after consultation with an endocrinologist, because there are contraindications.

1. Lemon and eggs. Squeeze the juice from 1 lemon and mix 1 raw egg well with it. Drink the resulting product 60 minutes before meals for 3 days.
2. Burdock juice. Juice from crushed burdock root dug in May effectively reduces sugar levels. It is taken three times a day, 15 ml, diluting this amount with 250 ml of cool boiled water.
3. For diabetes mellitus, simmer the partitions of ripe walnuts (40 g) in 0.5 liters of boiling water over low heat for 1 hour; take 3 times a day, 15 ml.
4. Plantain seeds(15 g) pour a glass of water into an enamel bowl and boil over low heat for 5 minutes. The cooled broth is filtered and taken 1 dessert spoon 3 times a day.
5. Baked onion. You can normalize sugar, especially in the initial phase of the disease, by eating a baked onion daily in the morning on an empty stomach. The result can be tracked after 1-1.5 months.
6. Millet against infection. You can use the following recipe against infection and to prevent diabetes: take 1 handful of millet, rinse, pour 1 liter of boiling water, leave overnight and drink during the day. Repeat the procedure for 3 days.
7. Lilac buds. An infusion of lilac buds helps normalize blood glucose levels. At the end of April, the buds are collected in the swelling stage, dried, stored in a glass jar or paper bag and used all year round. Daily dose of infusion: 2 tbsp. spoons of dry raw materials are poured into 0.4 liters of boiling water, left for 5-6 hours, filtered, divided the resulting liquid 4 times and drunk before meals.
8. Regular bay leaf also helps lower blood sugar. You need to take 8 pieces of bay leaves and pour 250 grams of “steep” boiling water over it, the infusion should be infused in a thermos for about a day. The infusion is taken warm; each time you need to strain the infusion from the thermos. Take 1/4 cup twenty minutes before meals.

Lifestyle of a person with diabetes mellitus

Basic rules that a diabetic patient must adhere to:

• Eat foods rich in fiber. These are oats, legumes, vegetables and fruits.
• Reduce your cholesterol intake.
• Use a sweetener instead of sugar.
• Take food often, but in small quantities. The patient's body can cope better with a small dose of food, since it requires less insulin.
• Check your feet several times a day to ensure there are no damages, wash with soap and dry every day.
• If you are overweight, then losing weight is the first goal in treating diabetes.
• Be sure to take good care of your teeth to avoid infection.
• Avoid stress.
• Get your blood tested regularly.
• Do not buy medications without prescriptions

Forecast

Patients with diagnosed diabetes mellitus are registered with an endocrinologist. By organizing the right lifestyle, nutrition, and treatment, the patient can feel satisfactory for many years. Acutely and chronically developing complications aggravate the prognosis of diabetes mellitus and shorten the life expectancy of patients.

Prevention

To prevent the development of diabetes mellitus, the following preventive measures must be observed:

• healthy eating: controlling your diet, following a diet - avoiding sugar and fatty foods reduces the risk of diabetes by 10-15%;
• physical activity: normalizes blood pressure, immunity and reduces weight;
• sugar level control;
• eliminating stress.

If you have characteristic signs of diabetes mellitus, be sure to go to an appointment with an endocrinologist, because Treatment in the first stages is most effective. Take care of yourself and your health!

Diabetes mellitus is a disease that can occur for several reasons. The disease is considered incurable, but according to many patients, they were able to get rid of diabetes by using certain recipes. Experts recommend that you first consult a doctor and only then begin therapy.

This concept covers several subtypes of diabetes. All types are united by a basic process, which is accompanied by a pathological increase in blood sugar. Doctors call this condition hyperglycemia. Despite the main general symptom, each of the subtypes has its own characteristics and characteristics. There are four types of diabetes mellitus:

• the first type, which is insulin dependent;
• the second type, which does not require constant treatment with insulin;
• diabetes of pregnant women, which is most often registered in the second or third trimesters;
• diabetes caused by trauma, chronic pancreatitis.

Attention! The disease begins to develop due to emerging pathologies of functioning in the pancreas, but gradually problems appear in each organ.

Causes of diabetes mellitus

The main reasons for the development of dangerous pathology include the following:

• increased body weight, which can be caused by poor diet, hormonal problems, and genetic characteristics;
• insufficient physical activity, which can lead to the development of the first described cause of diabetes;
• the age of the patient, which affects the type of disease and the need for insulin use;
• excessive consumption of rich and fatty foods that contain large amounts of sugar;
• the presence of diabetes mellitus in close and direct relatives, especially parents;
• problems during pregnancy, especially if the mother has diabetes;
• the weight of a newborn is up to 2.2 kg and over 4.5 kg, which does not allow internal organs to develop normally.

Attention! It is especially dangerous when the patient collects several factors in his medical history that can provoke the disease. In this case, the risk of developing diabetes increases five times.

Consequences of diabetes

The table shows the consequences of diabetes mellitus that occur when undergoing erroneous treatment. Using the right therapy methods will not only get rid of their manifestations, but will also allow you to become completely healthy.

Attention! At the same time, official statistics do not take into account the development of cancer cases that were caused by diseases of the pancreas and other systems. There is also no count of patients whose illness necessitated limb amputation.

Where to start the treatment process?

Since diabetes is caused by several main factors, treatment must begin with eliminating them. Even a small weight loss will significantly reduce the load on the pancreas and improve food digestion. Establishing a proper diet with plenty of green vegetables, dairy products, and unsweetened fruits is not only the key to losing weight, but also removing toxins from the body.

Physical activity will improve tone and boost immunity. Additionally, the blood circulation of the organs will improve, which will significantly lighten the load on them, and will also be a good prevention of atrophy and gangrene. At the same time, it is important to follow a daily routine so as not to inhibit the body’s protective function. Once all these steps have been taken and body weight has decreased significantly, you can move on to the second stage of consolidation and healing.

Attention! With the congenital type of diabetes, when the pathology developed in the womb, or the disease occurred due to pathological injury to the pancreas, the chances of complete healing are minimal.

Second stage of therapy

This stage involves the use of traditional medicine recipes. The main funds were created on the basis of Eastern teachings. Local healers, based on the simplest products, have created medicines to completely cure diabetes. These procedures do not require spending money and are not harmful to health. At the same time, you should constantly monitor your health and not reject accepted traditional methods of therapy.

Turmeric

For treatment, you need to take 2 g, this is about half a teaspoon, spices and drop 2 drops of aloe juice into it. The bitter taste stimulates the production of a normal amount of insulin and allows you to increase the overall tone of the body. This remedy must be taken three times before the main meal for one month. Additionally, aloe juice will relieve inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract, heal wounds and improve intestinal function.

Black plum

Fresh product is used for treatment. A quarter teaspoon of siwa pulp is mixed with 5 g of real natural honey and eaten before the first meal. The course of therapy lasts quite a long time and is 50 days; if necessary, treatment can be extended to two months. If you are allergic to any bee product, you do not need to include honey in the product; it is enough to take only black plum.

bitter melon

Finding the fruits of this fruit is quite difficult, but they perfectly balance insulin levels to the required level. It is enough to eat 100 g of melon pulp, regardless of the main meal, to see the normalization of your condition. All described methods of oriental therapy can be used simultaneously and together with medications recommended by a doctor.

Cryphaea amurica

A ready-made mixture of herbs is sold in pharmacies or on specialized websites, which affects the direct source of the disease - the pancreas. You need to take 5 g of the product, which is equal to one teaspoon of the herbal mixture. The mixture does not need to be diluted with water or other products, just swallow and wash down.

Take three times a day before main meals; children take one teaspoon of the mixture per day. It takes 90 days to completely get rid of the problem. Additionally, the treatment completely improves the functioning of the stomach, which protects it from the appearance of gastritis and ulcers. If they are present, the tissue regenerates, eliminating painful sensations after eating.

Lemon zest

The advantage of this recipe lies in its ability to be prepared independently and used even during pregnancy. To obtain a valuable medicine that can eliminate diabetes, you will need 100 g of fresh lemon zest, 300 g of parsley, its leaves should be perfectly green without the slightest trace of yellowness, and 300 g of garlic mixture or fresh garlic. This composition not only allows you to normalize blood sugar levels, but also stimulates the healing processes of the liver and pancreas.

All ingredients are ground to a puree; you can use a blender or meat grinder. After this, they are placed strictly in a glass jar and sealed tightly. After two weeks of infusion in a dark place, all the substances necessary for healing will be released. Take the drug three times a day 30 minutes before the main meal. The course of therapy lasts until the contents of the jar are completely consumed. Even if symptoms disappear, the course cannot be interrupted.

Attention! The described methods cannot give a 100% guarantee of getting rid of diabetes for each specific case, since it is necessary to take into account individual tolerance and general health. Officially, diabetes is a chronic type of disease, but experts do not exclude the possibility of alternative treatment if it does not pose a health hazard. Ideally, a combination type of therapy should be used.

Video - How to treat diabetes effectively and safely

The third stage of treatment – ​​consolidation

At this stage, it is important to maintain the result so that the disease cannot return again. All of the above methods seem to seal diabetes mellitus, but if you ignore the advice, it can return again in a more complicated form:

• check your sugar levels periodically, especially with repeated bouts of thirst and uncontrolled weight gain;
• try to adhere to the principles of proper nutrition, excluding, if possible, chocolate and flour products, as they contain a lot of fat and carbohydrates;

• Constantly exercise according to your health condition; yoga, swimming and Pilates are ideal;
• eat in fractional portions at least five times a day, the last meal should be as light as possible.

Attention! Getting rid of the symptoms of diabetes does not eliminate the need for constant monitoring of your condition, since any disease can relapse.

What should you not do when treating diabetes?

When undergoing therapy, it is necessary to use only safe methods that cannot lead to a worsening of the condition. Under no circumstances should you use the following methods, which scammers often sell to sick patients for huge sums of money:

• the use of questionable vibrating devices in the pancreas area, which can even lead to death due to glycemic coma;
• the use of drugs and recipes for removing toxins without the use of recommended traditional drugs;
• attending hypnosis and self-hypnosis sessions;
• Buying and wearing clothes or bracelets that can control blood sugar levels is simply not possible.

Attention! According to unofficial data, only 2% of all patients were able to completely overcome diabetes. In official medicine there are no such cases at all. 4.2

Diabetes mellitus is a disease that cannot be completely eliminated using modern medicine. However, there are a large number of medicines and folk remedies, using which the patient can maintain his health at an optimal level for a long time.

Symptoms of diabetes

Quite often, a patient may not know for a long time that he has diabetes, not noticing the clinical manifestations of the disease. In most cases, deterioration in health is attributed to fatigue or symptoms of other diseases. However, this condition is characterized by its own symptoms.

The main clinical manifestations of diabetes mellitus:

• constant feeling of thirst;
• dry mouth;
• frequent urination;
• feeling of hunger;
• rapid weight loss;
• exhaustion (manifests in patients dependent on insulin).

Minor signs include the following:

• chronic fatigue;
• numbness of hands and feet;
• dry skin;
• deterioration of vision;
• migraines.

If such clinical manifestations appear, you should immediately visit a doctor so that he can immediately prescribe the necessary treatment.

Lifestyle correction and necessary medications

If a patient is diagnosed with diabetes, treatment should begin as soon as possible. The earlier the disease is detected, the more favorable the prognosis will be for the patient. In the later stages of the disease, serious, irreversible complications can occur.

As already mentioned, this disease cannot be completely cured, but the patient’s condition can be maintained. To do this, he must eat right and take insulin regularly. In addition, you can resort to traditional medicine. Some herbs help normalize well-being.

You need to adjust your diet. Foods should supply complex carbohydrates to the body, while simple carbohydrates should be excluded from the diet.

In addition, the diet of a diabetic should not contain the following dishes:

• sweets;
• salty, fatty, fried, peppered, seasoned foods;
• alcoholic drinks and sweet soda.

It is also necessary to track the calorie content of your meals. It is important that the diet is balanced. The diet should have the correct ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

An integral part of diabetes treatment is the administration of insulin. You can do the injections yourself. Before administering the substance, you need to measure your sugar level. Injections are given if it is elevated. This measure allows you to maintain the patient’s body in normal condition so that he can live a full life.

People suffering from insulin-dependent diabetes should stock up on medication for future use. It is better if the supply is designed for more than one month. The substance will not deteriorate if stored correctly. This is necessary even when the patient does not need daily injections. But, if you suddenly need insulin urgently, it will be at hand.

The substance should be stored in a dark place, at a temperature not exceeding 8°C. You can do this in the refrigerator, but not near the freezer. If the product is stored in a warm place, under the influence of the sun's rays, it will lose its properties. For this reason, it is important to comply with storage conditions so that the medicine retains its benefits until the expiration date.

The bottle used can be stored indoors for no more than 45 days, avoiding direct exposure to sunlight. If the product is used once, then the opened bottle can be stored in the refrigerator for 90 days. Freezing should not be allowed, since after the medicine is thawed, an incorrect dose may be administered, which will make the patient worse.

It is allowed to use traditional methods, but only when this issue has been agreed upon with the doctor.

Treatment of diabetes mellitus with folk remedies

When fighting diabetes, it is extremely important to follow all the instructions of your doctor. If he allows, you can supplement the prescribed therapy with folk remedies. Herbal decoctions and infusions, vegetable juices and some other products are recommended. But first of all, you need to measure your sugar level using a special device - a glucometer.

Below are the most effective traditional medicine recipes that people suffering from diabetes can use.

Ginger root
Ginger root has a beneficial complex effect on the body of a patient diagnosed with diabetes. It contains a huge amount of microelements, so by including this product in the patient’s diet, it can be significantly enriched.

Ginger tea is most often used as a folk remedy for diabetes. To prepare the drink, you need to peel the root and place it in cool water for 60 minutes. Then grind it using a grater, place it in a thermos and pour boiling water. The drink is drunk in the morning on an empty stomach and twice a day before meals, adding to plain tea.

Aspen bark
The course of treatment with this remedy lasts for two months, then is interrupted for three weeks, after which, if necessary, the course can be resumed. A healing decoction is prepared from aspen bark; this is done as follows:

1. Pour one dessert spoon of raw material into a glass of water and put on fire.
2. When the mixture boils, remove from the stove and pour into a thermos.
3. Leave for at least ten hours, then strain.
4. Use twice a day 30 minutes before meals. However, if you have gastrointestinal diseases, to avoid heartburn, you need to drink the product in small sips throughout the day, having a light snack beforehand.

Bay leaf
This remedy helps lower blood sugar levels, get rid of extra pounds, improve immunity, without disrupting metabolic processes. Fresh bay leaves contain many useful substances, but dried leaves, which are much easier to find, are also suitable. The standard course of therapy lasts 21 days, then is interrupted. A decoction is made from bay leaves. To do this, you can use one of the following preparation options:

1. Method one. Pour ten dry leaves into three glasses of boiling water. Cover with a lid and leave for three hours. Drink half a glass 3 times a day before meals.
2. Method two. Pour one and a half glasses of water over the leaves and put on fire. Keep on the stove for about three minutes, then pour into a thermos and leave for three hours. Use the entire amount of decoction in one day. The course of therapy lasts three days, then is interrupted for two weeks.

Attention! In severe stages of the disease, bay laurel should absolutely not be used. In addition, it is prohibited to use for ulcers, as well as for kidney diseases.

Flaxseeds
Flaxseeds are often used to treat diabetes mellitus. They contain a large amount of saturated acids, due to which they normalize sugar levels. To prepare a healing remedy, a decoction is made from one liter of water and five tablespoons of raw materials. The ingredients are mixed and kept on fire for ten minutes. Then the broth is infused for 60 minutes. Take half a glass of the finished product three times a day every day.

Cinnamon
Cinnamon has a complex effect on the body. Due to the fact that it contains phenol, it helps lower blood glucose levels. By adding cinnamon to food daily, it is possible to reduce the patient’s blood sugar concentration by a third in one month.

For therapeutic purposes, the drug is prepared as follows:

• Prepare regular tea, add a quarter of a small spoon of this spice.
• The drink is infused for five minutes.

Another recipe:

• Mix a dessert spoon of cinnamon with honey in a 1:2 ratio.
• Heated water is added.
• The product is infused for at least ten hours.
• The finished drink is drunk in two doses (preferably prepared overnight).

Cinnamon is an effective remedy for diabetes, but there are also contraindications to its use. These include:

• low blood pressure;
• bearing a child and breastfeeding;
• individual intolerance to the product;
• problems with blood clotting;
• oncology of the gastrointestinal tract;
• bleeding;
• stool disorders.

Attention! If this product has not been consumed before, then it is necessary that its introduction into the diet be gradual. As a result, the amount of cinnamon per day should be 5 g.

Jerusalem artichoke
This root vegetable, which is known to many as “earthen pear,” contains a large amount of vitamins and beneficial microelements, but is low in calories. Jerusalem artichoke supplies the body with fructose, a natural sugar that is beneficial for people with diabetes. Earthen pear helps to lower and normalize the concentration of sugar in the patient’s blood. The fruit can be boiled or stewed, although it can also be consumed raw.

Rose hip
Remedies that can be prepared using rose hips help get rid of the manifestations of diabetes, as well as the complications of this disease. The fruits are used to treat diseases and improve immunity, while the flowers are used to relieve inflammatory processes. The stems help fight radiculitis, the roots help fight heart disease.

The plant contains a huge amount of vitamins and microelements, natural acids, oils and other useful substances.

By using folk recipes based on this remedy, diabetics will be able to get rid of many problems caused by the disease in question:

1. Deterioration of immunity. The occurrence of diseases that are caused by viruses or infection can significantly worsen the patient's condition.
2. High blood pressure. Jumps in this value have a negative effect on blood vessels, reducing their elasticity and leading to their destruction.
3. Difficulty eliminating bile and urine.
4. The formation of stones in the cavitary organs and excretory ducts of the glands, the accumulation of waste and toxic substances.
5. Rapid fatigue, decreased body tone.
6. Increased cholesterol levels. The use of rosehip-based products will normalize the concentration of this substance in the body, while simultaneously cleansing and strengthening the cardiovascular system.

Recipe for preparing a healing decoction:

• Chop fresh or dried berries.
• 3 tbsp. pour 0.5 liters of heated water over the raw materials and place in a water bath for 15 minutes.
• Pour the mixture into a thermos and leave for 24 hours.
• Drink the finished product twice a day 30 minutes before meals.

People suffering from diabetes can be treated with products based on such a plant only after the doctor approves it. If a patient has diseases such as stomach or duodenal ulcers, high acidity and other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, he cannot use rose hips to combat diabetes.

Green tea
Nutritionists believe that green tea is the most preferred drink for diabetes. By consuming it regularly, you can normalize your sugar levels, increase your glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity.

Green tea contains caffeine, theanine, catechin - substances that help eliminate visceral fat, which usually accumulates near internal organs. The drink will help normalize blood pressure and get rid of extra pounds.

Elderly people should not drink green tea very often, as this may deteriorate the health of their joints. Patients who have problems with kidney function, stones, gout, worsened ulcers, gastritis or other gastrointestinal diseases, as well as increased body temperature, should avoid drinking the drink.

Baking soda
This method of treating diabetes mellitus at home has been known since ancient times. There is evidence that with the help of baking soda it is possible to alleviate the condition of a patient with chronic kidney pathologies, which means that such a substance is quite effective in case of other metabolic failures.

Some experts believe that diabetes is a result of high acidity of the liver. The body, which is overloaded with waste and toxic substances, needs cleansing, and due to increased acidity, this process is not possible. As a result, the pancreas over time cannot produce insulin in the required quantities. From this we can conclude that neutralizing excess acid with soda will reduce the risk of diabetes and other diseases.

The recipe for preparing a healing composition based on baking soda is as follows:

• Bring 250 ml of milk to a boil.
• Add ¼ small spoon of the substance.
• Boil for a couple of minutes over low heat.
• Let cool.
• The medicine should be drunk one glass every day.

This medicine should not be used in patients who have low gastric acidity or have cancer. Other patients should consult a doctor before undergoing such treatment.

Vegetables and fruits
A diabetic's diet should contain a sufficient amount of these products, since they contain a large amount of vitamins and beneficial microelements, including fiber, which is a necessary substance for this disease. When choosing fruits and vegetables, you need to take into account their glycemic index and give preference to those in which it is less than 70. We must not forget that this value can increase during heat treatment, for this reason it is recommended to eat vegetables and fruits raw. To avoid a sharp increase in sugar levels, it is advisable to first eat dishes that have a low index, and then those that have a higher index. Products that will benefit patients diagnosed with diabetes include cabbage, beets, pumpkin, eggplant, seaweed, apples, pomegranate, and kiwi.

Video: treating diabetes without drugs

Diabetes mellitus is an endocrine disease caused by a lack of the hormone insulin in the body or its low biological activity. It is characterized by a violation of all types of metabolism, damage to large and small blood vessels and is manifested by hyperglycemia.

The first person to name the disease “diabetes” was the physician Aretius, who lived in Rome in the second century AD. e. Much later, in 1776, the doctor Dobson (English by birth), examining the urine of diabetic patients, discovered that it had a sweetish taste, which indicated the presence of sugar in it. Thus, diabetes began to be called “sugar diabetes.”

With any type of diabetes, blood sugar control becomes one of the primary tasks of the patient and his doctor. The closer the sugar level is to the normal range, the less symptoms of diabetes appear, and the lower the risk of complications.

Why does diabetes occur and what is it?

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that occurs due to insufficient production of the patient’s own insulin in the body (type 1 disease) or due to a violation of the effect of this insulin on tissues (type 2). Insulin is produced in the pancreas, and therefore patients with diabetes are often among those who have various disorders in the functioning of this organ.

Patients with type 1 diabetes are called “insulin dependent” - they are the ones who need regular insulin injections, and very often their disease is congenital. Typically, type 1 disease manifests itself in childhood or adolescence, and this type of disease occurs in 10-15% of cases.

Type 2 diabetes develops gradually and is considered “diabetes of the elderly.” This type is almost never seen in children, and is usually typical for people over 40 years of age who are overweight. This type of diabetes occurs in 80-90% of cases, and is inherited in almost 90-95% of cases.

Classification

What is it? Diabetes mellitus can be of two types - insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent.

1. occurs against the background of insulin deficiency, which is why it is called insulin-dependent. With this type of disease, the pancreas does not function fully: it either does not produce insulin at all, or produces it in a volume insufficient to process even the minimum amount of incoming glucose. This results in an increase in blood glucose levels. Typically, type 1 diabetes occurs in thin people under the age of 30. In such cases, patients are given additional doses of insulin to prevent ketoacidosis and maintain a normal standard of living.
2. up to 85% of all patients with diabetes suffer, mainly people over 50 years of age (especially women). Patients with diabetes of this type are characterized by excess body weight: more than 70% of such patients are obese. It is accompanied by the production of a sufficient amount of insulin, to which the tissues gradually lose sensitivity.

The reasons for the development of type I and type II diabetes are fundamentally different. In those suffering from type 1 diabetes, due to a viral infection or autoimmune aggression, the beta cells that produce insulin are destroyed, causing its deficiency with all the dramatic consequences. In patients with type 2 diabetes, beta cells produce sufficient or even increased amounts of insulin, but the tissues lose the ability to perceive its specific signal.

Causes

Diabetes is one of the most common endocrine disorders with a constantly increasing prevalence (especially in developed countries). This is the result of a modern lifestyle and an increase in the number of external etiological factors, among which obesity stands out.

The main causes of diabetes mellitus include:

1. Overeating (increased appetite), leading to obesity, is one of the main factors in the development of type 2 diabetes. If among people with normal body weight the incidence of diabetes mellitus is 7.8%, then with a 20% excess body weight the incidence of diabetes is 25%, and with a 50% excess body weight the frequency is 60%.
2. Autoimmune diseases(an attack by the body’s immune system on the body’s own tissues) – glomerulonephritis, autoimmune thyroiditis, etc. can also be complicated by diabetes mellitus.
3. Hereditary factor. As a rule, diabetes mellitus is several times more common in relatives of patients with diabetes mellitus. If both parents have diabetes, the risk of diabetes for their children throughout life is 100%; if one of the parents is sick – 50%; if a brother or sister has diabetes – 25%.
4. Viral infections, which destroy pancreatic cells that produce insulin. Among the viral infections that can cause the development of diabetes are: viral parotitis (mumps), viral hepatitis, etc.

A person with a hereditary predisposition to diabetes may never become diabetic throughout his life if he controls himself by leading a healthy lifestyle: proper nutrition, physical activity, medical supervision, etc. Typically, type 1 diabetes occurs in children and adolescents.

As a result of research, doctors have come to the conclusion that the causes of heredity of diabetes depend on the mother's side in 5%, on the father's side in 10%, and if both parents have diabetes, then the probability of transmitting a predisposition to diabetes increases to almost 70%. .

Signs of diabetes in women and men

There are a number of signs of diabetes mellitus that are characteristic of both types 1 and 2 of the disease. These include:

1. Feeling of unquenchable thirst and frequent urination, which leads to dehydration;
2. Also one of the signs is dry mouth;
3. Increased fatigue;
4. Yawning, drowsiness;
5. Weakness;
6. Wounds and cuts heal very slowly;
7. Nausea, possibly vomiting;
8. Frequent breathing (possibly with the smell of acetone);
9. Rapid heartbeat;
10. Itching of the genitals and itching of the skin;
11. Loss of body weight;
12. Increased urination;
13. Deterioration of vision.

If you have any of the above signs of diabetes, you should definitely measure your blood sugar levels.

Symptoms of diabetes

In diabetes mellitus, the severity of symptoms depends on the degree of decrease in insulin secretion, the duration of the disease and the individual characteristics of the patient.

Typically, the symptoms of type 1 diabetes are acute and the disease begins suddenly. In type 2 diabetes, the health condition deteriorates gradually, in the initial stage the symptoms are scanty.

1. Excessive thirst and frequent urination- classic signs and symptoms of diabetes. When you get sick, excess sugar (glucose) accumulates in the blood. Your kidneys have to work hard to filter and absorb excess sugar. If your kidneys fail, excess sugar is excreted from the body in urine and tissue fluid. This causes more frequent urination, which can lead to dehydration. You will want to drink more fluids to quench your thirst, which again leads to frequent urination.
2. Fatigue can be caused by many factors. It can also be caused by dehydration, frequent urination and the body's inability to function properly because less sugar can be used for energy.
3. The third symptom of diabetes is polyphagia. This is also thirst, however, not for water, but for food. A person eats and at the same time feels not full, but the filling of the stomach with food, which then quickly turns into new hunger.
4. Intensive weight loss. This symptom is characteristic primarily of type I diabetes (insulin-dependent) and girls are often happy about it at first. However, their joy fades when they find out the real reason for their weight loss. It is worth noting that weight loss occurs against the background of increased appetite and abundant nutrition, which cannot but be alarming. Quite often, losing weight leads to exhaustion.
5. Symptoms of diabetes can sometimes include vision problems.
6. Slow wound healing or frequent infections.
7. Tingling in arms and legs.
8. Red, swollen, tender gums.

If measures are not taken at the first symptoms of diabetes mellitus, then over time complications associated with tissue malnutrition appear - trophic ulcers, vascular diseases, changes in sensitivity, decreased vision. A severe complication of diabetes mellitus is diabetic coma, which occurs more often in insulin-dependent diabetes in the absence of sufficient insulin treatment.

Severity

1. Characterizes the most favorable course of the disease to which any treatment should strive. With this degree of the process, it is fully compensated, the glucose level does not exceed 6-7 mmol/l, there is no glucosuria (excretion of glucose in the urine), the levels of glycosylated hemoglobin and proteinuria do not go beyond normal values.
2. This stage of the process indicates partial compensation. Signs of diabetes complications and damage to typical target organs appear: eyes, kidneys, heart, blood vessels, nerves, lower extremities. The glucose level is slightly increased and amounts to 7-10 mmol/l.
3. This course of the process indicates its constant progression and the impossibility of drug control. In this case, the glucose level fluctuates between 13-14 mmol/l, persistent glucosuria (excretion of glucose in the urine), high proteinuria (presence of protein in the urine) is noted, and clear, extensive manifestations of target organ damage in diabetes mellitus appear. Visual acuity progressively decreases, severe arterial hypertension persists, sensitivity decreases with the appearance of severe pain and numbness of the lower extremities.
4. This degree characterizes the absolute decompensation of the process and the development of severe complications. In this case, the glycemic level rises to critical levels (15-25 or more mmol/l), and is difficult to correct by any means. The development of renal failure, diabetic ulcers and gangrene of the extremities is typical. Another criterion for stage 4 diabetes is the tendency to develop frequent diabetic comas.

There are also three states of compensation for carbohydrate metabolism disorders: compensated, subcompensated and decompensated.

Diagnostics

If the following signs coincide, a diagnosis of diabetes is established:

1. The blood glucose concentration (fasting) exceeded the norm of 6.1 millimoles per liter (mol/L). After eating two hours – above 11.1 mmol/l;
2. If the diagnosis is in doubt, a glucose tolerance test is performed in a standard repeat, and it shows an excess of 11.1 mmol/l;
3. Exceeding the level of glycosylated hemoglobin – more than 6.5%;
4. , although acetonuria is not always an indicator of diabetes.

What sugar levels are considered normal?

• 3.3 - 5.5 mmol/l is the normal blood sugar level, regardless of your age.
• 5.5 - 6 mmol/l is prediabetes, impaired glucose tolerance.

If the sugar level shows 5.5 - 6 mmol/l - this is a signal from your body that a carbohydrate metabolism disorder has begun, all this means that you have entered the danger zone. The first thing you need to do is lower your blood sugar levels and get rid of excess weight (if you are overweight). Limit yourself to consuming 1800 kcal per day, include diabetic foods in your diet, give up sweets, and steam.

Consequences and complications of diabetes

Acute complications are conditions that develop within days or even hours in the presence of diabetes mellitus.

1. Diabetic ketoacidosis- a serious condition that develops due to the accumulation of products of intermediate metabolism of fats (ketone bodies) in the blood.
2. Hypoglycemia is a decrease in blood glucose levels below the normal value (usually below 3.3 mmol/l), occurs due to an overdose of glucose-lowering drugs, concomitant diseases, unusual physical activity or malnutrition, and drinking strong alcohol.
3. Hyperosmolar coma. It occurs mainly in elderly patients with or without a history of type 2 diabetes and is always associated with severe dehydration.
4. Lactic acid coma in patients with diabetes mellitus is caused by the accumulation of lactic acid in the blood and more often occurs in patients over 50 years of age against the background of cardiovascular, hepatic and renal failure, reduced oxygen supply to tissues and, as a consequence, accumulation of lactic acid in tissues.

Late consequences are a group of complications that take months, and in most cases years, to develop during the course of the disease.

1. Diabetic retinopathy- damage to the retina in the form of microaneurysms, pinpoint and spotty hemorrhages, hard exudates, edema, and the formation of new vessels. It ends with hemorrhages in the fundus and can lead to retinal detachment.
2. Diabetic micro- and macroangiopathy- impaired vascular permeability, increased fragility, tendency to thrombosis and the development of atherosclerosis (occurs early, predominantly small vessels are affected).
3. Diabetic polyneuropathy- most often in the form of bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the “gloves and stockings” type, starting in the lower parts of the extremities.
4. Diabetic nephropathy- kidney damage, first in the form of microalbuminuria (excretion of albumin protein in the urine), then proteinuria. Leads to the development of chronic renal failure.
5. Diabetic arthropathy- pain in the joints, “crunching”, limited mobility, a decrease in the amount of synovial fluid and an increase in its viscosity.
6. Diabetic ophthalmopathy, in addition to retinopathy, includes the early development of cataracts (clouding of the lens).
7. Diabetic encephalopathy- mental and mood changes, emotional lability or depression.
8. Diabetic foot- damage to the feet of a patient with diabetes mellitus in the form of purulent-necrotic processes, ulcers and osteoarticular lesions, occurring against the background of changes in peripheral nerves, blood vessels, skin and soft tissues, bones and joints. It is the main cause of amputations in patients with diabetes.

Diabetes also increases the risk of developing mental disorders - depression, anxiety disorders and eating disorders.

How to treat diabetes

Currently, treatment of diabetes mellitus in the vast majority of cases is symptomatic and is aimed at eliminating existing symptoms without eliminating the cause of the disease, since an effective treatment for diabetes has not yet been developed.

The main tasks of a doctor in the treatment of diabetes mellitus are:

1. Compensation of carbohydrate metabolism.
2. Prevention and treatment of complications.
3. Normalization of body weight.
4. Patient education.

Depending on the type of diabetes, patients are prescribed insulin or oral medications that have a sugar-lowering effect. Patients must follow a diet, the qualitative and quantitative composition of which also depends on the type of diabetes mellitus.

• At type 2 diabetes mellitus prescribe a diet and drugs that lower blood glucose levels: glibenclamide, glurenorm, gliclazide, glybutide, metformin. They are taken orally after individual selection of a specific drug and its dosage by a doctor.
• At type 1 diabetes mellitus insulin therapy and diet are prescribed. The dose and type of insulin (short, medium or long-acting) is selected individually in the hospital, under the control of sugar levels in the blood and urine.

Diabetes mellitus must be treated, otherwise it is fraught with very serious consequences, which were listed above. The earlier diabetes is diagnosed, the greater the chance that negative consequences can be completely avoided and you can live a normal and fulfilling life.

Diet

Diet for diabetes is a necessary part of treatment, as is the use of glucose-lowering drugs or insulin. Without following a diet, it is impossible to compensate for carbohydrate metabolism. It should be noted that in some cases with type 2 diabetes, only diet is sufficient to compensate for carbohydrate metabolism, especially in the early stages of the disease. In type 1 diabetes, following a diet is vital for the patient; violation of the diet can lead to hypo- or hyperglycemic coma, and in some cases, to the death of the patient.

The goal of diet therapy for diabetes is to ensure a uniform and adequate intake of carbohydrates into the patient’s body. The diet should be balanced in proteins, fats and calories. Easily digestible carbohydrates should be completely excluded from the diet, except in cases of hypoglycemia. With type 2 diabetes, there is often a need to correct body weight.

The basic concept in diet therapy for diabetes mellitus is the bread unit. A bread unit is a conventional measure equal to 10-12 g of carbohydrates or 20-25 g of bread. There are tables that indicate the number of bread units in various food products. During the day, the number of bread units consumed by the patient should remain constant; On average, 12-25 bread units are consumed per day, depending on body weight and physical activity. It is not recommended to consume more than 7 bread units at one meal; it is advisable to organize the meal so that the number of bread units in different meals is approximately the same. It should also be noted that alcohol consumption can lead to long-term hypoglycemia, including hypoglycemic coma.

An important condition for the success of diet therapy is for the patient to keep a food diary; all food eaten during the day is entered into it, and the number of bread units consumed in each meal and in total per day is calculated. Keeping such a food diary allows, in most cases, to identify the cause of episodes of hypo- and hyperglycemia, promotes patient education, and helps the doctor select an adequate dose of glucose-lowering drugs or insulin.

See more details: . Menu and recipes.

Self-control

Self-monitoring of glycemic levels is one of the main measures to achieve effective long-term compensation of carbohydrate metabolism. Due to the fact that it is impossible at the current technological level to completely imitate the secretory activity of the pancreas, fluctuations in blood glucose levels occur throughout the day. This is influenced by many factors, the main ones include physical and emotional stress, the level of carbohydrates consumed, concomitant diseases and conditions.

Since it is impossible to keep the patient in the hospital all the time, monitoring the condition and minor adjustments in the doses of short-acting insulin are assigned to the patient. Self-monitoring of glycemia can be carried out in two ways. The first is approximate using test strips, which determine the level of glucose in the urine using a qualitative reaction; if there is glucose in the urine, the urine should be checked for acetone content. Acetonuria is an indication for hospitalization and evidence of ketoacidosis. This method of assessing glycemia is quite approximate and does not allow full monitoring of the state of carbohydrate metabolism.

A more modern and adequate method of assessing the condition is the use of glucometers. A glucometer is a device for measuring glucose levels in organic liquids (blood, cerebrospinal fluid, etc.). There are several measurement techniques. Recently, portable glucometers for measurements at home have become widespread. It is enough to place a drop of blood on a disposable indicator plate attached to the glucose oxidase biosensor apparatus, and after a few seconds the level of glucose in the blood (glycemia) is known.

It should be noted that the readings of two glucometers from different companies may differ, and the level of glycemia shown by the glucometer is usually 1-2 units higher than what actually exists. Therefore, it is advisable to compare the glucometer readings with the data obtained during an examination in a clinic or hospital.

Insulin therapy

Insulin treatment aims to compensate for carbohydrate metabolism as much as possible, prevent hypo- and hyperglycemia, and thus prevent complications of diabetes mellitus. Insulin treatment is life-saving for people with type 1 diabetes and can be used in a number of situations for people with type 2 diabetes.

Indications for prescribing insulin therapy:

1. Diabetes mellitus type 1
2. Ketoacidosis, diabetic hyperosmolar, hyperlaccidemic coma.
3. Pregnancy and childbirth with diabetes.
4. Significant decompensation of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
5. Lack of effect from treatment with other methods of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
6. Significant reduction in body weight in diabetes mellitus.
7. Diabetic nephropathy.

Currently, there are a large number of insulin preparations, differing in duration of action (ultra-short, short, medium, extended), degree of purification (monopique, monocomponent), species specificity (human, porcine, bovine, genetically engineered, etc.)

In the absence of obesity and strong emotional stress, insulin is prescribed in a dose of 0.5-1 unit per 1 kilogram of body weight per day. The administration of insulin is designed to imitate physiological secretion; therefore, the following requirements are put forward:

1. The dose of insulin must be sufficient to utilize the glucose entering the body.
2. The administered insulins should imitate the basal secretion of the pancreas.
3. The administered insulins should mimic the postprandial peaks of insulin secretion.

In this regard, there is so-called intensified insulin therapy. The daily dose of insulin is divided between long- and short-acting insulins. Long-acting insulins are administered, as a rule, in the morning and evening and imitate the basal secretion of the pancreas. Short-acting insulin is administered after each meal containing carbohydrates; the dose may vary depending on the grain units eaten in a given meal.

Insulin is administered subcutaneously using an insulin syringe, pen or special dispenser pump. Currently in Russia, the most common method of administering insulin is using syringe pens. This is due to greater convenience, less discomfort and ease of administration compared to conventional insulin syringes. The syringe pen allows you to quickly and almost painlessly administer the required dose of insulin.

Sugar-lowering drugs

Antihyperglycemic tablets are prescribed for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in addition to diet. According to the mechanism of lowering blood sugar, the following groups of hypoglycemic agents are distinguished:

1. Biguanides (metformin, buformin, etc.) - reduce the absorption of glucose in the intestine and contribute to the saturation of peripheral tissues with it. Biguanides can increase the level of uric acid in the blood and cause the development of a serious condition - lactic acidosis in patients over 60 years of age, as well as in people suffering from liver and kidney failure, chronic infections. Biguanides are more often prescribed for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in young obese patients.
2. Sulfonylureas (gliquidone, glibenclamide, chlorpropamide, carbutamide) stimulate the production of insulin by pancreatic β-cells and promote the penetration of glucose into tissues. The optimally selected dosage of drugs in this group maintains glucose levels not > 8 mmol/l. In case of overdose, hypoglycemia and coma may develop.
3. Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (miglitol, acarbose) - slow down the rise in blood sugar by blocking enzymes involved in the digestion of starch. Side effects are flatulence and diarrhea.
4. Meglitinides (nateglinide, repaglinide) - cause a decrease in sugar levels by stimulating the pancreas to secrete insulin. The effect of these drugs depends on blood sugar levels and does not cause hypoglycemia.
5. Thiazolidinediones - reduce the amount of sugar released from the liver and increase the sensitivity of fat cells to insulin. Contraindicated in heart failure.

Losing excess weight and individual moderate physical activity also have a beneficial therapeutic effect on diabetes. Due to muscle efforts, glucose oxidation increases and its content in the blood decreases.

Forecast

Currently, the prognosis for all types of diabetes mellitus is conditionally favorable; with adequate treatment and compliance with the diet, working ability is maintained. The progression of complications slows down significantly or stops completely. However, it should be noted that in most cases, as a result of treatment, the cause of the disease is not eliminated, and therapy is only symptomatic.