Diabetes mellitus
What is diabetes mellitus?
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease that occurs with an increase in blood sugar caused by a deficiency in insulin secretion or insufficiency in insulin efficiency.
Insufficient production of insulin or inability of cells to use insulin leads to an increase in blood sugar.
Glucose is a simple sugar in food and provides the energy needed for the body cells to function properly. Glucose, which is produced by the breakdown of carbohydrates in food after meals, is absorbed by the small intestine cells. Glucose passing into the blood is transported to the necessary body cells. insulin is needed.
Insulin is a hormone produced from the pancreas and released into the blood. It helps glucose enter the cell and regulates the blood sugar level. After the meal, the blood sugar level rises. In response to the increased blood sugar level, the pancreas secretes more insulin into the blood circulation. When the blood sugar reaches the normal level, insulin secretion from the pancreas returns to the normal level. In the case of fasting, insulin is released into the blood at a certain rate to keep the blood sugar in balance. The absence of insulin in diabetic patients, its relative deficiency according to the body’s needs. or not being used properly by body cells. All these factors cause blood sugar levels to rise.
How many types of diabetes are there?
There are mainly 2 types of diabetes. Type 1 and 2
Type 1 Diabetes is known as insulin-dependent or early-onset diabetes. In this type, the pancreas cannot produce or secrete insulin. has to.
Type 2 Diabetes is called non-insulin dependent or late-onset diabetes. In this type, the pancreas can produce insulin, but the insulin produced is insufficient for the body or there is a decrease in the sensitivity of especially fat and muscle cells to insulin. Type 2 diabetes usually occurs after 30 years of age. It occurs and its frequency increases with age. The main causes are poor eating habits, weight gain and lack of exercise.
Other conditions that can cause diabetes apart from Type 1 and 2 forms, pregnancy, conditions that damage the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas (such as chronic pancreatitis, surgery, trauma, etc.), are other hormonal disorders that can cause hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
Early symptoms of diabetes are the result of increased blood sugar level and increased excretion of sugar in the urine. It manifests itself with dry mouth, drinking a lot of water and frequent urination.
The relative or absolute absence of insulin predisposes to weight loss despite increased appetite.
Diabetic patients may experience weakness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. The tendency to infections of the gallbladder, skin and genital area increases.
Elevated blood sugar may cause blurred vision.
How is diabetes diagnosed?
Checking the fasting blood glucose level is the first way to diagnose. The normal plasma glucose (sugar) level should be less than 100mg/dl in the blood sample taken after at least 8 hours of night fasting.
Diabetes is diagnosed when fasting plasma glucose level is higher than 126 in 2 or more tests performed at different times.
Diabetes is present if the blood sugar level is 200 and above at any time.
If the fasting blood glucose level is above 100mg/dl but below 126mg/dl (100-126), this situation is called impaired fasting glucose. This is the pre-diabetes period called prediabetes and indicates that the person is at risk for diabetes. In this case, glucose tolerance test (sugar loading test) should be performed.
What is the prediabetes stage?
This is the period before the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes develop. It can be 5-15 years. During this period, Impaired Fasting Glucose (fasting blood sugar between 100-125) and Impaired Glucose Tolerance (in the 2nd hour blood sugar level in the sugar challenge test is 140 Between -1999) phases are seen.
Can transition from prediabetes stage to diabetes diagnosis be prevented?
When one of the prediabetes stages is detected, daily calorie and fat intake should be reduced and physical activity should be increased. In this way, the development of diabetes can be prevented by lifestyle changes. Also, lifestyle changes are included in all stages of diabetes treatment. Lifestyle change only affects blood sugar level. Not only does it have a positive effect on all risk factors.
What are the effects of diabetes on the body?
Diabetes can cause blindness, kidney failure, nerve damage, atherosclerosis, stroke, cardiovascular disease. These are chronic complications.
In addition, in the course of diabetes, hyperglycemic or hypoglycemic coma may develop due to abnormal increases and decreases in blood sugar. These conditions are also acute complications.
What is the treatment for diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic condition. In other words, treatment does not eliminate the disease, but provides control. Diabetes treatment aims to maintain blood sugar balance and prevent or delay complications.
Treatment depends on the type and severity of diabetes.
In type 1 diabetes, the treatment is necessarily insulin. Since the pancreas does not produce insulin in these patients, giving the necessary insulin as drug therapy is essential for sustaining life. Besides, diabetic diet and exercise are also important.
In type 2 diabetes, the first step of treatment is primarily weight reduction, diabetic diet and exercise. If blood sugar regulation cannot be achieved at this step, oral medications are used. If oral medications are insufficient in blood sugar control, insulin therapy can be started.
Who is at risk for diabetes, even if there is no sign of diabetes?
Those with a body mass index of 25 and above (obesity)
Those with low physical activity
Those with diabetes in their first-degree relatives
Those with gestational diabetes and over 4 kilos Those who gave birth to a baby
Those with hypertension
Those with HDL (good) cholesterol level below 35 or triglyceride level above 250
Diabetes screening should be performed in people with one or more of these criteria .
If these criteria are not present, screening tests should begin at age 45 and should be repeated every 3 years if the results are normal.
You can test your diabetes risk in 7 questions:
1.How old are you?
Under 40 years (0 points)
Between 40 and 49 (1 point)
Between 50 and 59 (2 points)
Over 60 years old (3 points)
2. Your gender
Male (1 point)
Female (0 points)
3. If you are female, have you been diagnosed with gestational diabetes?
Yes (1 point)
No (0 points)
4.Do you have a mother, father or sibling with diabetes?
Yes (1 point)
No (0 points)
5. Have you been diagnosed with high blood pressure?
Yes (1 point)
No (0 points)
6. Are you physically active?
Yes (0 points)
No (1 point)
7. What is your body mass index?
(Body mass index:Body weight (kg) divided by height in meters squared) (example:Weight:50 Height:1.5m BMI: 50/(1.5X1.5) =22,22)
24.9 (0 points)
25-29.9 (1 point)
30-39.9 (2 points)
40 and above (3 points)
Result: 5 or more, the risk for diabetes is high.
