The number of people diagnosed with diabetes mellitus in the world is growing rapidly: in 1980, 108 million people were diagnosed with it, while in 2014, 422 million people already had it.
At the same time, many people still do not know what diabetes is, why it occurs.
And most importantly – is it possible to prevent it.
This article answers these questions.
Types of diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease in which either the pancreas does not produce enough of the hormone insulin.
Or the body is unable to use the insulin it produces effectively.
Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood glucose levels
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus
This disease, also called “childhood” diabetes, accounts for about 10% of all cases of diabetes mellitus.
Childhood diabetes occurs more often in childhood and adolescence, but about a quarter of those affected are adults.
This means that the body perceives its own cells as foreign, attacks and destroys them.
Therefore, insulin stops being produced. - Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
This is a much more common disease, accounting for about 90% of all reported cases.
Both genetic and lifestyle factors play a role in its development
In type 2 diabetes, insulin is produced, but either too little or the body’s sensitivity to it is reduced.
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- Gestational diabetes mellitus
This type can develop in some pregnant women, most typically in the second or third trimester.
It occurs because the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin.
To cover the body’s needs for this hormone during pregnancy, blood sugar levels rise as a result.
- MODY Diabetes
Adult-onset diabetes mellitus in young adults.
This is a rare form of the disease – experts believe that it occurs in only 1-2% of patients with diabetes.
In the vast majority of cases, doctors make mistakes with the diagnosis and consider MODY diabetes to be diabetes type 1 or 2.
MODY-diabetes is a genetic disease.
If one parent has the mutation responsible for causing this type of diabetes, the child has a 50% chance of inheriting it.
The disease got its name because its course is similar to that of type 2 diabetes, but the symptoms appear much earlier, usually before the age of 25.
Symptoms of diabetes mellitus
Signs of diabetes, at the appearance of which it is worth unequivocally going to a specialist, include:
- Frequent urination, especially at night,
- Loss of weight and muscle mass for no apparent reason
- Frequent feeling of hunger
- Numbness in the palms of their hands or feet
- Persistent feeling of thirst
- Long healing time of scratches, dry skin
- Blurred vision
- Frequent colds, infectious diseases, fatigue
Doctors remind of the need to monitor blood sugar levels and follow the recommendations for the prevention of diabetes mellitus.
Especially if a person has risk factors for developing the disease.
Also, take supplements regularly
It is important to note that the diagnosis of “diabetes mellitus” is made on the basis of studies, namely, blood and urine tests
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Risk factors
Risk factors for developing type 1 diabetes are not completely clear.
However, they definitely include heredity and age: the risk of “childhood” diabetes increases if a close relative has been diagnosed.
And the likelihood of its manifestation is higher in children, adolescents and young adults.
Risk factors for type 2 diabetes are much better studied.
These include:
- High blood sugar levels (prediabetes),
- Overweight or obesity,
- Age (risk increases in people over 45),
- Presence of diabetes mellitus type 2 in a family anamnesis,
- Low level of physical activity (exercising less than three times a week),
- For women – the presence of gestational diabetes mellitus during pregnancy.
How to prevent diabetes
Unfortunately, the development of type 1 diabetes – an autoimmune disease – can not be prevented.
But the emergence of the most common variant of the disease – type 2 diabetes – can be prevented by changing your lifestyle.
Doctors advise: Get rid of excess weight
Obesity is considered one of the main “external” risk factors for the development of diabetes.
One study found that people who were overweight and lost an average of 7% of their body weight reduced their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 60%
What to do if you are diagnosed with diabetes mellitus
If a diagnosis is made, the patient needs to be very careful about his or her health.
Follow the diet recommended by the doctor, do physical exercises, and monitor blood sugar levels regularly.
It is important to understand that diabetes mellitus is a dangerous disease, and without proper treatment, can cause serious consequences.
Heart and circulation problems, kidney failure, stroke, heart attack.
