Type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus: treatment, symptoms, nutrition, prevention

Among the most common chronic diseases, diabetes mellitus is far from the last place in the modern world. This disease is expressed in an increase in the level of glucose in the blood cells. In a healthy person, the corresponding level is always normal, regardless of the amount of sweets consumed. It concerns the presence in the body of insulin, a special hormone that secretes the pancreas. It is he who breaks down glucose.

Patients with diabetes also have insulin in their blood, but either it is not enough or it is unable to cope with its functions due to a particular pathology of the blood cells. The statistics are disappointing: many people skip the initial stage of disease development, starting its course, and only turn to specialists when symptoms become so severe that they interfere with normal life and work.

Types of diseases

The disease is expressed by multiple symptoms. Different forms of this disease occur for different reasons and have a different pathogenesis. By itself, the concept of "diabetes" is quite broad. Experts distinguish 2 types of the disease.

type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is insulin dependent. It is most often diagnosed in young people, whose age does not exceed 40 years. This is a disease in which the blood cells are full of sugar. The reason for this is the antibodies that destroy insulin. The disease, the onset of which is associated with the presence of such antibodies, is not completely cured.

Diagnosing this disease involves carrying out serious laboratory tests. Such a diagnosis is not made from the photo, so you should not trust people who are trying to tell a person about his disease without even seeing the test results. At the first suspicion of a disease, you should immediately contact a medical institution.

People with type 1 diabetes tend to have a lean physique. They need regular insulin injections from the time they are diagnosed with the disease until the end of their life. The medical history of such patients is standard. The disease is hereditary.

Those who have had diabetes in their family have a genetic predisposition to this disease. A chronic variant of this type of disease occurs under certain circumstances. It can be caused by a variety of viruses and bacteria, as well as by severe or long-term stress. Due to these negative factors, antibodies are formed that can destroy the cells responsible for the presence of insulin.

type 2 diabetes

Insulin-independent, the second type of disease is often diagnosed in older people. This is a variant of the disease, characterized by the inability of insulin to cope with its main function. Sugar cannot break down on its own and builds up in the blood. Gradually, the cells of the body develop an "addiction" to insulin. The hormone itself is produced, there is no shortage, but the glucose in the cells is not broken down.

The insulin-independent variant of this disease has its progressive development. As a rule, this disease is detected in people over the age of forty, but sometimes it is also found in children. Patients with this type of diabetes mellitus are overweight. The blood cells of these people cease to be able to sense any effects of insulin.

Characteristics of type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is the result of insufficient secretion (release) of insulin by the pancreas. Specialists indicate characteristic symptoms that make it possible to suspect the presence of this disease in a person even in the early stages. Among them: a constant feeling of thirst, excessive urination, fatigue, a chronic feeling of weakness. It is necessary to determine the level of glucose and insulin in the blood. If the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment is immediately prescribed, otherwise the patient can develop ulcers and a wide range of other complications.

Why does type 1 diabetes develop? The classical medical school gives a unique answer to this question. The main cause of this disease is a pancreatic disorder, in which insulin formation stops or slows down significantly. It is also worth noting that pregnant women have so-called gestational diabetes, which is associated with the risk of developing an insulin-dependent form of the disease.

Let's not forget to discuss very specific topics and symptoms. Often type 1 diabetes is accompanied by the formation of the smell of acetone in the oral cavity. These are the first bells of the body, which should alert and encourage a person to contact a specialist. The earlier in this case the patient comes to the doctor, the more likely it is that the disease can be detected at an early stage. However, often people, and especially men, neglect to visit a specialist and live for a year or several years, without even knowing their diagnosis, until it becomes completely unbearable.

Indirect signs of form 1 diabetes mellitus include:

1. Complications in the treatment of infectious diseases;
2. Poor wound healing
3. heaviness in the legs;
4. Pain in the calf muscles

It is also important to remember that people with this disease must constantly monitor their blood pressure and maintain its normal state with modern medications. Specific drugs should be prescribed exclusively by a specialist, based on the diagnosis and individual characteristics of the patient.

How to detect type 1 diabetes?

The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined the procedures that people must follow if they suspect the presence of this disease. Their list includes:

• Blood test for glucose;
• Glucose Tolerance Study;
• Detection of glucose levels in the urine;
• Calculation of the percentage of glycosylated hemoglobin;
• Detection of insulin and C-peptide in the blood.

You should know that blood must be drawn for analysis on an empty stomach. The results of the study are compared with the glucose level values in a special table. If this level:

1. It does not reach 6. 1 mmol / l - there is no hyperglycemia, the disease is excluded;
2. It is in the range of 6, 1 and 7, 0 mmol / l - the blood sugar level is close to the maximum allowed;
3. Exceeds 7. 0 mmol / l - the presence of a disorder is very likely, but an accurate diagnosis requires further confirmation.

The pre-diabetic state of a person is indicated by violations of glucose tolerance - an increase in blood sugar, which, however, has not yet exceeded the permissible limits. A patient with such findings needs further monitoring and prophylaxis.

How is type 1 diabetes treated?

There are the following treatments for this disease: a special diet, exercise, medication.

A properly selected nutritional system helps relieve the main symptoms of diabetes. The main task of the diet is to limit the intake of sugar in the body as much as possible.

How to cure the disease? In situations with type 1 disease, in most cases, regular insulin injections are indispensable. Experts determine the optimal daily dose of this hormone for each patient individually.

Preparations containing insulin are absorbed into the blood at different rates and act for different times. It is necessary to choose the right places for injections. There are several varieties of this hormone:

• Short-acting insulin: its effect is noticed almost instantly;
• The intermediate insulin is supplied to the body through a special preparation containing substances that slow down the absorption of the hormone. This drug works for about 10 hours;
• Long-acting insulin. It is supplied to the body through a number of special drugs. It should take approximately 14 hours to reach peak effectiveness. The din is valid for at least a day and a half.

As a rule, patients carry out the introduction of drugs on their own, having learned to give themselves injections under the guidance of a specialist.

The doctor constructs a treatment regimen in a special way based on the presentation of the patient, reflecting such factors as:

1. Growth;
2. Weight;
3. Age;
4. Insulin sensitivity.

If a patient with diabetes is overweight, then a mandatory measure of treatment and prevention is to reduce the percentage of high-calorie foods on the menu. It is harmful to use canned food, fatty meats, smoked foods, sour cream, mayonnaise, nuts and many fruits. We will have to forget the sweets. This is especially difficult if the disease is diagnosed in children or in women who tend to cuddle.

We need to look for ways to reduce the amount of high calorie foods. There is an energy deficit and the body consumes fat tissue. However, it should be remembered that you cannot bring yourself to the exhaustion of energies.

Physical activity helps lower blood sugar levels. Moderate workload required. Exercises should be performed regularly, dosed. There is no need to wear yourself out with heavy weights. Enough aerobic exercise.

So-called insulin pumps can significantly improve patients' quality of life. These are devices from the world of electronics that accurately determine the level of sugar in the blood and, based on the readings received, independently carry out metered injections of insulin. They make the treatment more effective and minimize the risk of complications.

How to store insulin preparations?

Open vials can be stored at room temperature for no more than six weeks. They should be stored in places where sunlight or artificial light does not penetrate. Do not store insulin-containing preparations near heat sources.

The inadmissibility of the use of the drug is indicated by the formation of a film or characteristic clots inside the vial, visually similar to flakes. This signal plays an important role. Using an expired drug threatens to increase problems with the disease and can even lead to fatal consequences.

type 2 diabetes mellitus

The pancreas of those with type 2 diabetes produces enough insulin on its own, but the body is unable to absorb this hormone due to cell receptors malfunction. Glucose is not processed properly, as a result, blood vessels are damaged, as are internal organs. This can be especially dangerous during pregnancy. However, the non-insulin dependent form is typical of older people.

Diabetes of the second variety is formed for certain reasons, the main of which is considered to be overweight and a genetic predisposition to this disease. According to statistics, about 80% of patients with type 2 diabetes are obese. Can you fully recover by reducing your body weight? The answer here will be no, but as a preventative measure, this measure can be very effective. According to the generally accepted scientific concept, an excess of fat cells prevents the body from using insulin.

Symptoms and complications of type 2 diabetes

Symptoms of the first and second types of the disease are similar in many respects: severe thirst is accompanied by excessive urination, a person constantly feels bad - weakness and fatigue, bouts of irritability, sometimes nausea and vomiting.

Particular attention should be paid to possible complications. According to the latest International Classification of Diseases (MBC 10), their list is quite extensive and of considerable concern to patients. If the blood is full of glucose, then pathological changes in almost all internal organs are inevitable. In the advanced stages of the disease, patients are even given disability.

In patients with type 2 diabetes, the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke, all types of kidney disease and visual impairment are significantly increased. Even minor wounds do not heal for a long time. Sometimes the disease becomes capable of leading to gangrene, which may require amputation of the injured limb. The list of complications for men completes impotence. Such a serious list of downsides obliges specialists to keep finding ways to the most effective therapy today.

What makes sense to do when you find signs of illness?

If there are the first suspicions of diabetes of the second form, it is urgent to undergo a medical examination. People who are aware of their genetic predisposition to this disease should regularly monitor the sugar content in their blood and urine. This is especially true for people aged 50 and over, as well as anyone who is overweight.

If the diagnosis is already established, the patient should be under medical supervision and periodically visit a specialist.

For people with type 2 diabetes, doctors prescribe:

• Check glucose and cholesterol levels, as well as body weight;
• Change your diet by adding low-calorie foods to the menu, in which there should be as little sugar as possible. You have to eat more complex carbohydrates and foods with plant fibers;
• Exercise regularly.

Patients must learn to independently determine the level of glucose in the blood. Today, there are specialized devices that make it easy to do this at home. They are called glucometers.

It is necessary to constantly adhere to strict self-control. Treatment is inextricably linked to diet therapy and exercise. These points effectively complement the therapy based on the use of hypoglycemic drugs, indicated in medicine as mimetics of incretin. Most often these are tablets, not injections, as is the case with drugs containing insulin.

A specific medicine should only be prescribed by a doctor, based on all the data he has about the patient. He must individually determine the frequency of subsequent visits. It is necessary to conduct a lot of tests to establish what the general condition of the patient is, whether there is a risk of developing complications, the prevention of which will require additional treatment.

With the help of the results of numerous scientific studies, experts were able to find that, along with weight loss, the disease takes a weaker form. As a result, its symptoms are less distressing for patients and their quality of life improves significantly.

Recently, a new remedy, the Chinese diabetes patch, was widely publicized in the media. Its manufacturers promise an almost miraculous effect, urging you not to save money and buy their products. However, conventional medicine practitioners are skeptical of this treatment option. If you read the reviews on the Internet about this patch, they are extremely contradictory. Some write that they would have helped. Others are completely disappointed with this remedy.

Prevention measures

Leading medical experts have long proven that stress is a provoking factor in the development of many diseases. It can also contribute to the onset of diabetes, so you should avoid worries and try not to react less to life's problems.

As mentioned above, you should exercise and watch your diet. There are specially designed diets that are beneficial for the health of such patients. If you strictly adhere to the recommendations of the doctor, you can significantly improve the quality of your life, eliminating a significant part of the symptoms accompanying this disease.

It is necessary to exclude some products from the menu. Often, specialists prescribe the so-called diet 9. Its goal is to minimize the consumption of foods that contain a large amount of carbohydrates. It has been shown that in patients using this diet, the work of the pancreas improves significantly.

What products can be consumed? Their list includes: low-fat varieties of meat and fish; cabbage, cucumbers, eggplants, tomatoes and zucchini; buckwheat, barley, millet and oatmeal. Apples and strawberries are also allowed, but in moderation. Dairy products can only be consumed low in fat. After such a meal, the blood sugar level will not rise to an unacceptable level.

In the medical selection of the menu, the structural composition of food is necessarily taken into account. The diet should include:

1. 55% animal protein (80-90 grams).
2. 30% vegetable fat (70-80 grams).
3. 300-350 grams of carbohydrates.
4. 12 grams of cooking salt
5. One and a half liters of liquid.

Do not consume more than 2200-2400 kcal per day. You need to eat 5-6 times a day, "spreading" your carbohydrate consumption evenly over time. The sugar will have to be eliminated. Sweet dishes are prepared in small quantities and only with sugar substitutes such as stevia, sorbitol or xylitol.

Salt intake should also be limited. The cooking method is important. Boiled and baked dishes should prevail in the diet. Fried and stewed food is acceptable for consumption in a minimal amount. There are recipes specially designed for diabetics. By following them, you can cook delicious dishes that will not harm your health.

The day you have to adhere to a certain menu. So, diet number 9 can be represented by:

• In the morning: tea, buckwheat porridge, fat-free cottage cheese, milk;
• Second meal: wheat bran (boiled);
• Lunch: cabbage soup with sunflower oil (vegetarian), fruit jelly, boiled with milk sauce;
• Afternoon snack: a small amount of apples;
• Evening meal: baked fish boiled in milk sauce, as well as cabbage dishes.

What they eat during the week

Table number 9 is the fruit of the work of Soviet nutritionists. They have created a food option suitable for specialized sanatoriums. The ninth table significantly increases the effectiveness of complex therapy.

The menu of the week looks like this:

Monday

• Breakfast: chicory, fat-free cottage cheese with milk, polenta (buckwheat).
• Lunch: 200 ml of milk.
• Lunch: vegetarian cabbage soup, white bird breast, fruit jelly.
• Afternoon: apple.
• Evening meal: boiled fish, tea, cabbage dishes.
• Before going to bed: a glass of low-fat yogurt.

Tuesday

• First meal: barley, chicken egg, chicory, cabbage.
• Lunch: a glass of milk (it is suitable only low-fat).
• Lunch: mashed potatoes, boiled beef liver, pickle soup, dried fruit compote.
• Afternoon snack: fruit jelly.
• Evening meal: boiled chicken, cabbage.
• Before going to bed: low-fat kefir.

Wednesday

• The first meal: cottage cheese and fat-free milk, chicory, oat porridge.
• Lunch: a cup of gelatin.
• Lunch: borsch, boiled meat, buckwheat porridge, tea.
• Afternoon snack: one or two pears.
• Evening meal: salad or vinaigrette, eggs, tea.
• Before going to bed: a glass of low-fat yogurt.

Thursday

• The first meal: buckwheat porridge, chicory, low-fat cottage cheese.
• Second breakfast: kefir.
• Lunch: lean borscht, compote of dried fruit, boiled meat.
• Afternoon snack: unsweetened pear.
• For an evening meal: cabbage cutlet, boiled fish of low-fat tea varieties.
• Before going to bed: a glass of low-fat yogurt.

Friday

• First meal: egg, a little butter, potato-free vinaigrette with sunflower oil, chicory.
• Lunch: apple.
• Lunch: sauerkraut, stew or boiled, pea soup.
• Afternoon snack: some fresh fruit.
• Evening meal: pudding with vegetables, boiled poultry meat, tea.
• Before going to bed: a glass of curdled milk.

Saturday

• First meal: millet polenta, chicory, doctor's sausage.
• Lunch: wheat bran.
• Lunch: boiled, mashed potatoes, fish soup.
• Afternoon snack: a glass of low-fat kefir.
• Evening meal: low-fat cottage cheese, tea, oatmeal.

Sunday

• First meal: chicken egg, chicory, buckwheat polenta.
• Lunch: one or two apples.
• Lunch: Beef cutlet, light vegetable soup, pearl barley porridge.
• Afternoon snack: skim milk.
• Dinner: vegetable salad, boiled fish, mashed potatoes.
• Before going to bed: low-fat kefir.

Folk methods of treatment

In folk medicine, there are many recipes that, with varying degrees of effectiveness, help fight high blood sugar. Certified doctors are often skeptical of such methods of treatment, but they do not prohibit patients from using them together with the main therapy. This "integrated approach" often yields positive results, allowing patients to reduce the manifestation of painful symptoms.

The most effective recipes of traditional medicine:

• For prevention, an egg with the addition of lemon juice will help. Shake the contents of a raw egg, add the juice of a lemon. Reception 50-60 minutes before meals, 3 days, in the morning. After ten days, the course can be resumed.
• In the morning, eat baked onions for a month.
• A good way to lower glucose levels is to take some mustard or flaxseed every day, as well as blackcurrant leaf tea.
• Using freshly squeezed potato juice helps lower the sugar level. Raspberries and white cabbage are also used.
• White mulberry tincture (2 tablespoons) is prepared by pouring boiling water (2 cups), the infusion time is 2-3 hours, taken 3 times a day.
• Do not forget about such a folk remedy as a decoction of oats. Pour a tablespoon of oat grains with water (one and a half glasses), then boil for 15 minutes, the course is 3 r / d 15-20 minutes before meals.
• Help cinnamon - half a teaspoon per day. Consume with tea.
• Grind the oak acorns into a powder. Course - 1 hour / l on an empty stomach in the morning, as well as immediately before bedtime for seven days.
• Pour the walnut partitions (40 g) with boiling water (500 ml) and put on fire. Boil for ten minutes. Insist until tender, drink 1 tablespoon / l half an hour before meals.
• Pour boiling water (half a liter) of poplar bark (2 tablespoons), put everything on the stove and cook for about 10 minutes. Having insisted, drink half a glass before eating.
• An effective infusion is prepared from a glass of boiling water, which is poured over the cloves (20 pieces). Insist at night, drink three times a day exactly one third of a glass. Do not remove used cloves, add another pinch in the evening, pour boiling water again, etc. The course of treatment is six months.
• Prepare half a liter of boiling water two tablespoons of the mixture of nettles with rowan berries in the ratio: three to seven. Leave for about three to four hours. Take half a glass twice a day.
• Pour the burdock roots (20 g) with boiling water (one glass), boil in a water bath for about 10 minutes. The course is 3 times a day at the table / bed before meals.

All information provided to readers in the article is for informational purposes only. Before using the information obtained in practice, be sure to consult a competent specialist about the possible consequences!