Type 2 diabetes mellitus is characterized by an increase in glucose levels, in which pathological processes affect almost all organs and systems. During the course of the disease, energy metabolism in the body is disrupted. Glucose is a substance that a person receives with food, and then the blood delivers it to the cells. However, to get to the organs, glucose needs the hormone insulin.
According to the ICD 10 code, type 2 diabetes belongs to the 4th class of endocrine diseases and metabolic disorders and is coded E11.
Features of the disease
Insulin is produced by pancreatic cells. In type 2 diabetes, there is a relative lack of this hormone. This means that at the very beginning of the course of the disease, cells can produce normal or even increased amounts of insulin, but then it drops sharply.
That is why the delivery of glucose to cells and organs is not carried out in full. Excess sugar accumulates in the blood. This negatively affects the blood vessels and the nervous system, which has a bad effect ontheir functioning. This condition leads to the development of many complications. Usually, the disease begins to develop with obesity or genetic abnormalities.
Causes of occurrence
Among the main causes of type 2 diabetes can be identified as follows:
- excessive weight;
- lack of movement;
- an excess of easily digestible carbohydrates in the diet;
- genetic predisposition.
Adipose tissue significantly increases the activity of metabolic processes and affects the production of insulin. The most dangerous is the accumulation of body fat in the waist area. A sedentary lifestyle leads to a decrease in muscle demand for glucose. If there is no physical activity, then it is in a significant amount in the blood.
Excess in the habitual diet of easily digestible carbohydrates leads to increased production of hormones. Genetic predisposition significantly increases the likelihood of diabetes. Provoking factors include the age of the person. Often the disease develops after 40 years.
Severity
Depending on the severity of the course, type 2 diabetes is divided into:
- easy;
- medium;
- heavy.
With a mild degree, a special diet is sufficient to maintain glucose levels at the required level. Medications are generally not prescribed. It occurs quite rarely, since basically diagnostics are already carried out on a more neglectedstage.
The average degree is considered the most common. The patient requires drugs to lower glucose levels. Complications at this stage are not observed or they are mild and do not affect the quality of life. At this stage, there may be a lack of insulin due to a decrease in the functionality of the pancreas. In this case, it is additionally administered as an injection. Weight loss occurs during this stage as the body cannot absorb sugar and therefore breaks down its own fats and muscles.
Severe degree is characterized by the presence of complications. With improperly selected treatment or its absence, various kinds of disorders occur in the vessels of the kidneys, as well as the eyes. In addition, heart failure, diabetic foot syndrome may occur. The nervous system suffers from this disease, and degenerative changes occur in this area.
Main symptoms
Symptoms of the course of the disease are quite non-specific. Their occurrence is generally not noticed by a person and does not experience significant discomfort and disturbance of well-being. However, knowing what the signs of a violation may be, you can timely recognize the course of the disease and consult a doctor for diagnosis and subsequent treatment. Timely therapy will prevent the occurrence of complications. The main signs of the course of this pathological process are:
- increased urine output;
- intense thirst;
- dry mouth;
- increaseappetite;
- mucosal itching.
Abscesses may appear on the skin, which do not heal for a long time. In addition, one of the symptoms can be fungal infections and impotence. The disease can be discovered quite by accident, when contacting a doctor with a heart attack or stroke. This may indicate the occurrence of dangerous complications.
Classic signs appear only with an increase in glucose levels. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the fact that immediately there is an accumulation of sugar in tissues and organs.
Diagnostics
For people suffering from diabetes, treatment is selected strictly individually. However, before this, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive diagnosis and determine the severity of the disease. To do this, using a blood test, the amount of sugar is determined. With elevated rates, an additional study is assigned.
Glucose tolerance test may be ordered. It is carried out in the morning strictly on an empty stomach. This research method allows you to evaluate how the body copes with the glucose that has entered it.
Features of treatment
Timely treatment of type 2 diabetes allows you to stop the course of the pathological process. In particular, the doctor prescribes hypoglycemic drugs, which are selected purely individually, depending on the severity of the disease.
In addition, folk remedies and methods are often used, and strict adherence to the diet is also required. All thishelps to normalize well-being very quickly and prevent the development of complications.
Medicated treatment
Drugs for type 2 diabetes are prescribed only by a qualified doctor. In particular, medicines such as:
- biguanides;
- thiozolidinedione;
- sulfonylurea derivatives;
- glinides;
- inhibitors.
Biguanides help reduce insulin resistance, the absorption of excessive amounts of sugar. In addition, they contribute to weight loss, fighting obesity. Among the most popular drugs are such as "Glucophage" and "Siofor". These medicines help slow down the aging process, which occurs much earlier in diabetic patients.
Thiozolidinediones increase the uptake of glucose by cells, and also normalize lipid metabolism. Drugs in this group are prescribed mainly for high cholesterol levels. Sulfonylurea derivatives help increase insulin production. They are best used in combination with biguanides. Among the drugs of this group, it is necessary to highlight such as "Amaryl", "Maninil" and "Dibeton".
Glinides are fast-acting drugs aimed at restoring insulin production immediately after eating. Incretinomimetics are new drugs designed specifically for diabetics. They help to significantly enhance the action of hormones that affect the production of insulin, and also have a sugar-suppressing effect on the body.
In some cases, combined preparations may be prescribed, characterized by the fact that one tablet contains two active ingredients. Such means include "Glukovans", "Glibomet". Their use makes the treatment more convenient and acceptable for the patient.
Drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes are selected strictly individually, depending on the condition of the pancreas, the patient's weight and the presence of concomitant diseases.
Using insulin
If with the help of medications it is not possible to stabilize glucose levels, then insulin is prescribed for type 2 diabetes. This occurs with the progression of the disease, accompanied by a decrease in the synthesis of this hormone.
Temporarily insulin therapy can be prescribed during intensive treatment of complications, before surgery, in the postoperative period, during pregnancy, as well as the presence of concomitant diseases. On average, people with type 2 diabetes are prescribed insulin about 9 years after diagnosis.
Timely use of this hormone makes it possible to maintain the normal function of the pancreas, and also prevents the development of complications. It is worth noting that it is imperative to accurately calculate the amount of insulin, since its excess can lead to hypoglycemic coma.
Folk techniques
Folk remedies for the treatment of diabetes have a good effect. Medicinal herbs can only be used when a mild form of the disease occurs as an addition to medication.drugs. As hypoglycemic agents, you can use plants such as:
- chamomile;
- aspen bark;
- St. John's wort;
- horsetail;
- cinnamon;
- St. John's wort;
- blueberry shoots.
Decoctions and infusions can be prepared from medicinal plants. Cinnamon can be used as a spice in desserts, drinks and meat dishes.
Dieting
Be sure to know what is wrong with type 2 diabetes, so as not to provoke the development of complications and normalize well-being. Compliance with the diet helps to effectively fight the disease at the initial level of its course. Weight loss makes it possible to achieve a reduction in insulin resistance and eliminate insulin deficiency caused by excessive weight.
The menu for type 2 diabetes is designed so that you can slow down the flow of sugar into the circulatory system as much as possible. This will make it possible to prevent a sharp rise in glucose levels. That is why, fast-digesting carbohydrates should be excluded from the usual diet.
Basically, the doctor prescribes table 9 for type 2 diabetes, as such a diet helps to normalize glucose levels and replenish the body with energy reserves. Be sure to limit your intake of fats and oils. They not only lead to obesity, but also significantly reduce tissue sensitivity to insulin. It is very important to learn how to calculate the safe amountcarbohydrates.
Meals must be fractional. It is worth remembering that you need to consume food every 4 hours. When compiling a menu for type 2 diabetes, it is important to take into account the calorie content of foods consumed. This will help to reduce weight and reduce the amount of medication used for treatment.
Many patients wonder what can be done with type 2 diabetes. The exemplary diet allows the consumption of foods such as:
- potato;
- black bread;
- cereals;
- eggs;
- fish and meat;
- vegetables and fruits;
- dairy products;
- beans and peas.
Meals can be quite varied and include delicious meals. However, when choosing recipes for type 2 diabetes, it is worth remembering that all consumed foods are only allowed to be steamed, boiled and stewed. It is not recommended to eat spicy, fatty, s alty and canned foods.
Fruits allowed for type 2 diabetes should contain a minimum amount of sugar. It is advisable to completely exclude grapes and bananas from your usual diet. It is important to limit the consumption of alcoholic beverages, as alcohol leads to a sharp decrease in sugar.
Physical exercise
Obesity is often observed in type 2 diabetes, which is why you need to increase physical activity. In addition, a significant amount of glucose in the body is consumed during active muscle work. That is why, for the supply of sugar to cells and tissues,physical exercise. Literally an hour of training 3 times a week allows you to reduce insulin resistance and makes it possible to effectively cope with obesity.
Anaerobic exercises should be preferred during treatment. Ideal for any aerobics, jogging, dancing, swimming, skiing. You need to select the type of activity depending on your own preferences, as well as availability. For older people, you need to start training with a short walk, and then gradually move on to more intense loads. It is worth remembering that at the end of the workout, the patient should not experience severe weakness.
To achieve the maximum possible result, you need to combine strength and aerobic training. At the same time, during power loads, you need to train with a moderate and high load, performing each exercise in several approaches. It is important to exercise regularly, as insulin sensitivity in the absence of training will decrease dramatically.
Feature of the disease in children
Diabetes mellitus in childhood is found quite rarely. However, if this happens, then glucose levels are controlled by drug therapy. Basically, this disease is diagnosed in obese children.
One of the important factors in the occurrence of diabetes is a sedentary lifestyle, together with an unhe althy and unbalanced diet. You can eliminate hyperglycemia by following a diet, as well as physical activity.
Type 2 diabetes cannot be completelycure, but there is an opportunity to prevent complications and normalize well-being.
Possible Complications
High insulin levels are observed with insulin resistance and this is due to obesity, in particular, a large accumulation of fat deposits in the abdomen. In addition, it may be associated with elevated cholesterol levels and hypertension. If all these disorders are observed all together, then the person is diagnosed with metabolic syndrome.
In case of late diagnosis, as well as improper treatment, a variety of complications can occur. One of the most dangerous complications is the development of type 1 diabetes. In this case, lifelong use of insulin is required to maintain the level of this hormone in the body. With an overabundance of it, the patient can fall into a glycemic coma, and often this condition leads to death.
Prophylaxis
It is possible to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes even if there is a hereditary predisposition. To do this, it is enough to normalize weight, as well as include mandatory sports, do not overeat, and limit the consumption of fast carbohydrates.
To prevent complications of type 2 diabetes, you need to regularly conduct a blood test for glucose. That is why it is advisable to purchase a glucometer. This will allow to identify pathological changes and carry out their correction at the initial stage.
Life expectancy and the course of the diseasedepends on the patient. To prevent the development of complications, be sure to:
- control glycated hemoglobin;
- maintain pressure at the required level;
- quit smoking;
- normalize the amount of cholesterol.
In case of non-compliance with all these rules and recommendations, many different complications and disorders in the body can occur. The treatment of type 2 diabetes is a rather lengthy process, and often it can last a lifetime. Therapy includes medication and lifestyle changes.
