Diabetes mellitus is accompanied by inability to absorb glucose with its subsequent accumulation in the blood. Type 2 disease occurs in a milder form than type 1. The basis of treatment for the disease is diet and medication.
Type 2 diabetes - features of the disease
For normal functioning, the body needs a constant supply of energy, which is produced from the food consumed. The main supplier is glucose. To absorb sugar into tissues, a hormone is needed - insulin, which is produced by the pancreas.
In type 2 diabetes, the gland functions normally, but the cells develop resistance to the hormone. As a result, sugar is not delivered to the cells, but remains in the blood plasma. The body begins to lack energy. The brain reacts to the situation with a signal to increase insulin production.Increased concentration of the hormone does not change the situation.
Gradually, insulin production decreases significantly, due to wear and tear of the organ and depletion of reserves, and may stop completely. The disease develops gradually and initially has no pronounced symptoms. With an advanced form of the disease, it can go into stage 1.
Reasons for development
Type 2 diabetes often develops due to wear and tear of the body, so the pathology is more common in people over 40 years of age.
But there are other reasons and provoking factors for the development of the disease:
- transmission at the genetic level. If you have relatives with diabetes (of any type), then the likelihood of developing the pathology increases by 50%;
- obese people are more susceptible to developing the disease, since fat deposits reduce the sensitivity of cells and also reduce the functioning of organs;
- incorrectly composed diet. Frequent consumption of sweet, fatty and quickly digestible foods;
- low consumption of energy reserves, occurs with a small amount of physical activity;
- pathological changes in the pancreas;
- frequent infectious diseases affecting the functioning of the digestive tract;
- nervous and physical exhaustion, as well as frequent stress and depression;
- frequent increase in blood pressure;
- violation of medication intake with the development of side effects affecting the functioning of the gland.
Pathology develops when there are 2 or 3 causes at once. Sometimes the disease is diagnosed in pregnant women. In this case, its occurrence is associated with hormonal changes in the body. The disease (usually) goes away on its own after delivery.
What happens with diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (diet and medication treatment are interconnected: without following a diet, taking medications will be ineffective) affects the functioning of the entire body. As the disease begins to develop, tissue sensitivity to insulin decreases. The pancreas and other organs are functioning normally.
Without proper treatment, the concentration of glucose in the blood increases, which leads to the "sugarification" of protein cells in the blood. This change disrupts the functioning of organs. The body experiences energy starvation, which also leads to a malfunction of all systems.
The lack of energy begins to be replenished by the breakdown of fat cells. The process is accompanied by the release of toxins that poison the entire body and affect the performance of brain cells.
Excess sugar leads to dehydration; beneficial vitamins and minerals are washed out with water. The condition of blood vessels worsens, which leads to disruption of the heart. The risk of blood vessel blockage by blood clots also increases. As a result, vision, liver and kidney function are impaired, since these organs contain many small blood vessels. Blood circulation in the extremities is impaired.
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes
At the initial stage, the disease occurs without visible symptoms. If the disease is not detected or proper treatment is not received, the pathology develops further withaccompanied by characteristic symptoms:
- a constant feeling of dryness in the mouth, accompanied by unquenchable thirst. This symptom occurs because a large amount of fluid is required to remove excess glucose from the blood. The body spends all the incoming fluid and water from the tissues on this;
- the formation of a large amount of urine, as a result of which the person often goes to the toilet;
- increased sweating, which increases during sleep;
- increased dryness of the skin and mucous membranes, accompanied by itching;
- lack of moisture and poor nutrition of the optic nerve causes visual impairment;
- microcracks and wounds heal more slowly;
- arbitrary twitching of muscle tissue occurs due to a malfunction of the nervous system;
- swelling of the limbs accompanied by pain and numbness;
- due to lack of energy, severe weakness, increased appetite and arrhythmia are felt;
- a strong decrease in immunity, which causes frequent colds.
At the initial stage, there is an increase in appetite, fatigue and a frequent need for fluid. To rule out/confirm diabetes, you need to contact your general practitioner/pediatrician for a blood sugar test. At the onset of the disease, it is enough to adjust the diet for treatment.
Stages
Depending on the severity of symptoms, treatment features and complications arising from the disease, diabetes is divided into 4 degrees of severity.
| Degrees of pathology | Main characteristics | Distinctive features |
|---|---|---|
| Lightweight | The disease occurs with a slight increase in blood sugar concentration, which causes increased thirst, increased appetite and muscle weakness. There are no pathological changes in the functioning of the body. Nutritional adjustments are used as therapy. Medicines are prescribed in rare cases. | At this stage, diabetes is detected in rare cases, mainly during medical examinations when taking a blood test. The composition of urine does not change. Glucose levels are in the range of 6-7 mmol/l. |
| Average | Symptoms of the disease increase. There is a deterioration in the functioning of the organs of vision and blood vessels, and the blood supply to the extremities is disrupted. There are no serious abnormalities in the functioning of the body. Treatment is with diet and medications. | The level of sugar in the urine is normal; in the blood the range is 7-10 mmol/l. |
| Heavy | The symptoms are pronounced. There is a severe malfunction in the functioning of organs (decreased vision, constantly high blood pressure, aches and tremors of the extremities). Treatment uses a strict menu and insulin administration (medication therapy does not produce results). | Increased sugar levels are recorded in urine and blood. In the blood, the concentration varies in the range of 11-14 mmol/l. |
| Increased severity | Impairment in the functioning of organs is practically irreversible. The disease cannot be treated; constant monitoring of sugar and its regulation with insulin injections is required. | Glucose concentration remains in the range of 15-25 mmol/l. A person often falls into a diabetic coma. |
Mild to moderate diabetes is easy to treat and control blood sugar. At these stages, there is no significant disruption in the functioning of the body. Diet, weight loss and medication can sometimes achieve complete recovery.
Diagnostics
Diabetes mellitus type 2 (diet and treatment are prescribed after diagnosis) is determined by laboratory methods. Additionally, a hardware examination is carried out to identify the development of complications. First, a specialist examines the patient and finds out when the first symptoms of the pathology were discovered.
Examination methods:
- Donate blood on an empty stomach. The glucose concentration is determined without the influence of food.
- Determining the amount of sugar after eating or taking glucose-containing medications.
- The dynamics of increase and decrease in sugar during the day are checked. Necessary to determine the correctness of the prescribed treatment.
- Urine delivery to determine its composition (sugar, protein, acetone). As well as determining kidney dysfunction.
- A detailed blood test to determine the presence of a malfunction in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Additional hardware examinations:
- Ultrasound;
- ECG;
- dopplerography;
- capillaroscopy.
A complete examination allows you to determine the severity of the disease and its impact on organ function. If abnormalities are detected, the patient will be treated by several specialists, depending on which organs have been damaged.
Diagnostics is also necessary for people who are at risk of developing the disease (heredity, overweight, age over 45 years).
Treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus
Pathology therapy consists of complex treatment. Depending on the severity of the disease, the specialist prescribes medications, draws up a menu, and prescribes physical exercises for weight loss.
Antihyperglycemic drugs
Type 2 diabetes is initially treated with diet.When treatment does not produce a visible effect, the specialist prescribes medications that lower the amount of sugar in the blood. At the beginning of treatment, 1 type of medication is prescribed. To ensure the effectiveness of treatment, the number of drugs is gradually increased.
Types of hypoglycemic medications and their effects:
| Type of drugs | Their purpose |
|---|---|
| Glinides and sulfonylurea derivatives | Prescribed to increase the body's own production of insulin. |
| Biguanides and glitazones | Reduces glucose production in the liver and increases tissue sensitivity to sugar. Helps reduce appetite. |
| Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors | Reduce the rate of glucose absorption by intestinal tissues. |
| Gliptins and glucagon-like peptide receptor agonists | They increase the production of insulin and at the same time reduce the concentration of sugar. |
| Insulin | Promotes the absorption of glucose by body tissues. |
| Thiazolidone derivatives | Increases the sensitivity of cell receptors to insulin. |
Most often, 2 or 3 mutually compatible drugs are prescribed. Simultaneous use of drugs to increase insulin production with medications that affect the sensitivity of cells to the hormone will allow you to achieve an effective reduction in blood sugar.
It is dangerous to choose medications on your own. A sharp decrease in sugar concentration also has a detrimental effect on the functioning of the body. If the drug causes side effects, it is replaced by a therapist. If medications are ineffective, the patient is transferred to insulin therapy.
Insulin therapy
Insulin is prescribed as therapy when there is decreased production of the hormone by the pancreas. The dose and number of injections depend on the type of diet prescribed and the degree of physical activity. An overweight patient with diabetes is prescribed a low-carbohydrate diet, which requires more frequent monitoring of glucose concentrations.
The use of injections allows you to maintain the functionality of the pancreas (the organ does not wear out due to increased load). It also reduces the likelihood of developing complications.
Additionally, the use of injections allows:
- normalize the amount of sugar in the blood during the day;
- improve the production of the hormone by the gland independently, in response to an increase in glucose concentration after eating food;
- reduce the formation of glucose from non-carbohydrate compounds;
- control glucose production in the liver;
- normalize the production of lipids and glucagon.
The injections are painless and are given using a special syringe with markings to control the amount of the drug. Sugar levels are measured before and after the procedure.
Diet for type 2 diabetes. Principles of nutrition
When treating diabetes, it is necessary to constantly follow a diet that depends on the severity of the disease, the presence of excess weight and physical activity. The menu must be agreed upon with the treating specialist. If the amount of sugar changes (increase or decrease), the therapist changes the diet.
When following a diet, important conditions must be observed:
- eating should occur at certain hours at least 6 times a day;
- food should not be high in calories and easily digestible;
- if you are overweight, you need to reduce the calorie content of your meals;
- the amount of salt consumed should be kept to a minimum;
- alcohol and fast food snacks are excluded;
- high content of fruits and taking vitamin supplements to maintain immunity.
It is advisable to prepare dishes without using oil or with a minimum amount of it (you can boil or bake). It is necessary to increase the amount of clean water consumed per day. When creating a menu, be sure to take into account the presence of other pathologies (diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, heart, kidneys).
Prohibited Products
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (diet and treatment will give a positive result with proper nutrition) in a mild form can be eliminated by eliminating harmful dishes and foods from the diet.
| Strictly prohibited products | Conditionally prohibited products |
|---|---|
|
|
The amount of consumption of conditionally prohibited products must be agreed with the treating specialist. They increase the amount of glucose, but gradually. It is prohibited to simultaneously consume 2 or more types of products from the conditionally prohibited list.
How to monitor blood glucose levels if you have diabetes?
Diabetes requires regular monitoring of sugar levels.To measure it at home, a glucometer is used.It is mandatory to take daily morning measurements before eating. If possible, measure throughout the day (after eating, heavy physical activity).
All data must be entered into a special notebook, which must be shown to the therapist at the next examination. Therapy (medicines, diet) will be adjusted based on the dynamics of changes in glucose. Additionally, you need to take a test in the laboratory every 3-6 months (set by your doctor).
List of allowed products indicating GI
If you have diabetes, you are allowed to consume the following foods in any quantity, but taking into account their calorie content and GI.
| Grocery list | GI (glycemic index) |
|---|---|
| Boiled eggs | 48 |
| Boiled mushrooms | 15 |
| Sea kale | 22 |
| Boiled crayfish | 5 |
| Kefir | 35 |
| Soy milk | thirty |
| Cottage cheese | 45 |
| Tofu cheese | 15 |
| Low fat milk | thirty |
| Broccoli | 10 |
| cucumbers | 10 |
| Tomato | 20 |
| Eggplant | 20 |
| Olives | 15 |
| Radish | 10 |
| Apples | thirty |
| Pear | 34 |
| Plum | 22 |
| Cherry | 22 |
| Rye flour bread | 45 |
| Dill | 15 |
| Salad | 10 |
| Pearl barley porridge on water | 22 |
| Wholemeal pasta | 38 |
| Cereals | 40 |
| Bread | 45 |
| Marmalade | thirty |
This list can be expanded by the therapist, taking into account physical activity and the severity of the disease.
Folk remedies
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (diet and treatment are necessary conditions to prevent the development of complications and further development of the disease) can be controlled additionally with folk remedies. It is recommended to discuss their use with your doctor.
Recipes that normalize the metabolic process in the body and promote weight loss:
- Stir 70 ml of honey and 40 g of dry cinnamon (powder) into 0. 4 liters of boiling water. Leave overnight in the cold. The drink is divided into 2 servings. Use morning and evening. Duration of therapy is up to 14 days.
- Steam 10-12 pieces in 0. 5 liters of water. bay leaves. Use 30 ml 3 times. Course 10 days. It is necessary to conduct 3 courses with breaks of 10 days.
- Instead of tea leaves, steam linden flowers. Drink up to 2 tea cups per day.
- Finely chop 350 g of garlic and parsley and 100 g of lemon zest. Stir and leave for up to 14 days in the cold. Take 10-12 mg per day.
- Boil 20 g of beans in 1 liter of water (4 hours). Consume up to 300 ml per day (can be divided into portions). Duration of therapy is 31 days.
- Drinks prepared instead of tea (consume 400 ml per day) from:
- herbs St. John's wort, chamomile, blueberry;
- aspen bark;
- bean wings;
- whole cinnamon.
If there is intolerance or an allergic reaction, drinks are excluded from the diet.
Physical exercise
Physical warm-ups must be performed even if there are no problems with weight. Exercises allow you to normalize the functioning of the heart, blood vessels and respiratory organs, as well as stabilize the general condition of the body as a whole.
When exercising, it is important to correctly take into account the load, since increased calorie burning quickly leads to hunger, and food after exercise can be digested with a large release of glucose into the blood.
Sports recommended for diabetes:
- exercises with dumbbells;
- walks in the park or light jogging;
- Biking;
- swimming;
- yoga;
- calm dancing.
It is recommended to discuss the type of lesson with your treating specialist. As well as spending the required amount of time on the procedure.
Complications of the disease
When the disease is detected at an advanced stage, inadequate treatment has been provided orthe patient did not follow the specialist’s recommendations, dangerous complications may develop:
- Swelling.Edema can develop not only outside (arms, legs, face), but also inside the body. Depending on what caused the symptom to develop. This may be the development of heart or kidney failure, which also develop as a complication of diabetes.
- Pain in the legs. The symptom is initially present during intense physical activity. As the disease progresses, pain also occurs at night. Additionally, numbness of the limbs and temporary loss of sensation appear. There may be a burning sensation.
- The appearance of ulcers.Due to the increased sugar content, wounds heal poorly and take a long time, which leads to the development of open ulcers. The therapist recommends that even small cuts be carefully treated until the wound is completely healed.
- Development of gangrene. In diabetes, the condition of blood vessels is disrupted, which can lead to their blockage. Most often this phenomenon is observed on the extremities. As a result of the formation of a blood clot, fresh blood with oxygen and nutrients does not flow into the hand/foot. Tissue death occurs. Initially, redness occurs, accompanied by pain and swelling. If there is no treatment, it will eventually turn blue. The limb is amputated.
- Increase/decrease in pressure.Changes in blood pressure levels often occur due to renal dysfunction.
- Coma.This condition can occur with a sharp increase in glucose concentration or decrease (due to an overdose of insulin). Or due to severe poisoning of the body with toxins that are produced during the formation of energy from fat cells. At the same time, the patient becomes covered in cold and sticky sweat, speech becomes slurred and unconscious. When glucose rises, an odor characteristic of acetone appears. Next, loss of consciousness occurs. Without assistance, rapid death is possible.
- Visual impairment. Due to poor nutrition of eye tissue and nerves. Initially, dots and a veil appear, and gradually complete blindness may develop.
- Impaired kidney function.Due to the heavy load on the organ, kidney failure develops.
By treating diabetes, the development of consequences can be avoided. Timely detection of the onset of complications will eliminate their further progression.
Clinical guidelines for type 2 diabetes
If diabetes is detected, an urgent visit to a physician and a sugar test is necessary. If the disease is confirmed, you need to undergo a full examination. Next, you need to follow all the recommendations of the treating specialist (diet, medications, exercises). Be sure to check your blood sugar concentration. If the condition changes, the attending physician must adjust the treatment.
Diabetes mellitus can develop gradually and be detected already in the middle stage. In type 2, diet is the basis of treatment. In advanced cases, medication or insulin injections are required.