Diabet

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic endocrinological disease characterized by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood.

Glucose is the main source of energy for our body. Food must contain carbohydrates. Once in the digestive system, complex carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, which is transported in the blood throughout the body. The hormone insulin is responsible for the process of removing glucose from the blood and absorbing it into muscle tissue (or storing it as glycogen in adipose tissue). If these metabolic processes are disrupted, glucose accumulates in the blood, causing diabetes.

The concentration of glucose in the blood depends on many factors. After eating, glucose levels increase. Additionally, an increase in concentration can be observed in cases of stress or even after moderate physical activity. Therefore, to diagnose diabetes mellitus, certain observational statistics are necessary. Glucose levels are measured while fasting. Normally, it should be between 3.3 and 5.5 mmol/L in capillary blood (blood from a finger) and between 4.0 and 6.1 mmol/L in venous blood. If within a week, during fasting blood sugar measurement, the indicator does not drop below 6.3 mmol/L, then you should consult an endocrinologist.

Types of Diabetes
Doctors distinguish two main types of diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). The disease is associated with pancreatic dysfunction. The pancreas produces insulin. With significant destruction (more than 90%) of the cells responsible for its production, the amount of insulin in the blood decreases, and carbohydrate metabolism is disrupted. Glucose, still present in the blood, cannot be absorbed by the body. In this case, the muscle tissue cells suffer from a glucose deficiency. As a result, a person with type 1 diabetes loses weight fairly quickly. Type 1 diabetes occurs more often in people under 30 years old.

Type 2 diabetes is non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). This type of disease is caused by a loss of tissue sensitivity to insulin. In type 2 diabetes, the insulin level in the blood can be normal, low, or high. But the cells no longer respond, and the concentration of glucose in the blood increases. Typically, the disease develops in the context of obesity. Type 2 diabetes most often affects people over 30 years old.

There are other, less common types of diabetes.

Complications of Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus leads to a decrease in immunity. Consequently, the patient suffers more frequently from various diseases, the healing process is delayed, and illnesses often become chronic. The healing of various wounds (cuts, abrasions) is worse. Nervous tissues and blood vessels are affected. The development of atherosclerosis is stimulated, the blood vessels of the eyes and kidneys are affected, and blood supply to the skin is disrupted. The combination of disorders in various systems leads to a complex of complications called diabetic foot syndrome. The foot, due to its peripheral position, proves to be the most vulnerable – the pathological changes caused by diabetes can lead to inflammatory processes, ulcers, and tissue necrosis. In advanced cases, amputation may be necessary.

Acute complications are dangerous, such as ketoacidosis – the accumulation of intermediate fat metabolism products (acetone) in the blood. Ketoacidosis is characteristic of type 1 diabetes.