How to detect diabetes. How to determine diabetes at home. How Diabetes is Diagnosed

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Basic information about diabetes
Diabetes is a disease in which the pancreas produces enough hormone insulin. But it is insulin that maintains a constant amount of glucose in the blood. Only with its help, glucose can enter all the cells of the body, being the main source of energy for them. With an excess of glucose, insulin promotes its conversion into glycogen and is deposited in the cells of the liver and muscles. Such a supply of glycogen is needed as an energy reserve, which is quickly mobilized if necessary. With a lack of insulin, excess sugar cannot be absorbed by the cells, but remains in the blood and is excreted in the urine, while the cells experience acute deficiency energy.

Diabetes mellitus is the third most common disease in the world after diseases. of cardio-vascular system and cancer. Women are more often ill, accounting for about 65% of all cases. This is due to the fact that women live longer than men and the risk of getting sick increases with age.

Diabetes mellitus is not inherited, but is a hereditary disease. This means that the risk of getting sick increases if your parents or siblings have diabetes. However, for the implementation of heredity and the appearance diabetes lifestyle, nutrition, the influence of damaging environmental factors are important ( toxic substances, viruses, stress).
That. does not necessarily lead to diabetes.

Two types of diabetes.
Distinguish type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes requires constant insulin injection, so it is called insulin dependent. This type of diabetes occurs before the age of 30 and can start early. childhood. It develops due to the destruction of pancreatic cells that synthesize insulin. As a result, there is an absolute insufficiency of insulin. The cause of cell death can be a viral infection (Coxsackieviruses, cytomegaloviruses, influenza, rubella, chicken pox, parotitis, measles), stress, autoimmune diseases, transferred pancreatitis, toxic effect on the pancreas of some drugs and nitroso compounds, which are used in the manufacture of smoked meat products.
If one of the parents has type 1 diabetes, the risk of getting sick is approximately 1:14, i.e. 7%. If both parents are sick, the risk of getting sick is about 60%. The increase in the incidence of type 1 diabetes occurs in the autumn-winter period.

type 2 diabetes(insulin-independent) is associated with a decrease in the sensitivity of tissues to the action of insulin and the main reason for this is obesity. At the onset of the disease, insulin is produced in normal amounts and fasting blood glucose is normal. However glucose tolerance test reveals the disease. This test consists in the fact that a fasting glucose load is carried out and the nature of the increase in blood sugar is assessed. Thus, the state of prediabetes is revealed.
Type 2 diabetes occurs in 80-85% of all patients with this disease and begins after 40 years. If one of the parents has type 2 diabetes, the risk of getting sick is 8:10, i.e. 80%, and if the mother and father are sick, the risk approaches 100%. Type 2 diabetes is closely associated with obesity - one in five people suffering from overweight is at risk for this disease. This type of diabetes progresses slowly, often masquerades as other diseases, and is milder than type 1, making it harder to diagnose.
Thus, type 1 diabetes develops due to insufficient production of insulin and is characterized by rapid unexplained weight loss. And type 2 diabetes is associated with a violation of the sensitivity of tissues to the action of insulin and is characterized by obesity.
The problem with diabetes is that it develops gradually, i.e. without obvious symptoms. Therefore, periodic monitoring of blood sugar (preferably once every 2 years), especially after the age of 45, has great importance in order to detect the state of prediabetes in time, and take appropriate measures in time.

prediabetes- this is the line when there is no disease yet, but the amount of sugar in the blood on an empty stomach slightly exceeds the norm (the maximum norm is 5.5 mmol / l) and is 5.6 - 6.5. With an indicator of 7 mmol / l on an empty stomach, diabetes mellitus is diagnosed. Prediabetes is also detected during a glucose tolerance test. When glucose tolerance is impaired, they speak of the development of type 2 diabetes.

The main signs that you have diabetes mellitus.
Fatigue without visible reasons. You have hardly worked yet, but you already feel physical exhaustion. A year ago, you did not feel a similar burden.
Sharp increase weight. This is typical for type 2 diabetes.
A large weight gain during pregnancy, when the need for insulin exceeds the body's ability to form it.
Weight loss in type 1 diabetes. This is because there is not enough insulin to absorb the nutrients that are being taken into the body.
Unquenchable thirst (polydipsia) appears due to a large loss of water in the urine and increased osmotic pressure blood. At the same time, dryness in the mouth remains even after taking liquids.
Increased and insatiable appetite (polyphagia). Patients constantly feel hungry and cannot get enough. This is because the cells cannot take up glucose from the blood in the absence of insulin. This is the so-called "hunger in abundance."
Frequent copious urination ( polyuria). This is due to an increase in the osmotic pressure of urine due to the glucose contained in it (which does not normally exist), and the body tries to get rid of it.
Violation of vision. It becomes blurry.
Vaginal candidiasis. The milkmaid who long time practically untreatable.
Sexual weakness, violations menstrual cycle.
Long-term non-healing wounds and purulent complications, furunculosis. This is due to the fact that the energy hunger of the cell leads to an increased breakdown of proteins, using them as an energy source. Arises protein deficiency, and as a result, immunity suffers, because. proteins are needed for the production of cells that provide immune protection.
Itching and dryness of the skin in certain parts of the body, in connection with which people turn to dermatologists, gynecologists, but the problem does not go away.
Looseness and bleeding of gums, paradontosis, tooth loss.
Tingling and numbness of the limbs.
Low resistance to infections and frequent complications with them.
Skin disease acanthosis nigricans, which is characterized by dark, thickened skin on the neck and armpits, small areas of hyperpigmentation skin folds with not pronounced coarsening of the skin, in large skin folds. Patients usually complain of asymptomatic "dirty" appearance skin folds that are not removed by washing.
Blood sugar test. Sometimes visible signs There is no diabetes mellitus yet, and the disease is detected by chance during a blood test. Currently, there is also such an indicator of sugar levels as glycated hemoglobin. It is hemoglobin bound to glucose. Accordingly, the more glucose in the blood, the greater this indicator. The level of glycated hemoglobin can be used to judge the level of sugar in the blood over the past 3 months.
In children, the first type of diabetes is mainly noted, and the disease develops very quickly. Therefore, if you notice that the child often urinates, constantly drinks water, significantly loses weight, you should immediately consult a doctor, measure blood and urine sugar.

Risk factors for diabetes.
Unmodified (which cannot be affected)
weighed down heredity.
Female gender, especially if your baby weighed more than 4 kg at birth or you have PCOS.
Age (with type 2 diabetes, patients over 40 years of age are about 80%).
Modified (which can be changed).
Obesity. More common in women. This is due to the constitutional female body. A woman also spends a lot of time preparing food, which creates prerequisites for obesity.
Large waist, even if the weight is small.
Chronic overeating.
Frequent stress.
Alcohol abuse.
Sedentary lifestyle.
Enhanced level cholesterol and blood pressure.
Diseases of the digestive system ( chronic cholecystitis, pancreatitis, cholelithiasis).
The use of oral contraceptives, glucocorticoids, thyroid-stimulating hormone, growth hormone, diuretics.
Poor and insufficient sleep.
Diet contains a lot easily digestible carbohydrates(sugary drinks, bakery and confectionery, vermicelli) and fats, but few fruits and vegetables.

Many people know about such a formidable disease as diabetes mellitus, because the disease is considered one of the most common problems of society. Pathology endocrine apparatus begins imperceptibly, since the early stages are compensated by the internal forces of the body. More often, the diagnosis is confirmed already in the midst of clinical manifestations.

Awareness of how to determine diabetes at home will not only allow you to start timely treatment, but also to correct the patient's condition, as well as to achieve stable compensation, without leading to the development of complications.

Types of Diabetes

It should be remembered that there are several types of the disease, but each of them is accompanied by hyperglycemia (a condition in which the level of glucose in the blood rises). There may be several reasons, on the basis of which the division of endocrine pathology is built:

• Insulin dependent diabetes (type 1)- the disease is more typical for young people, accompanied by the failure of pancreatic cells. The body cannot synthesize a sufficient amount of insulin, the action of which is associated with the penetration of glucose into cells and a decrease in glycemia.
• Non-insulin dependent diabetes (type 2)- more typical for older people. The pancreas produces a sufficient amount of the hormone, but the tissues and cells of the body "do not see" it, losing their sensitivity.
• Gestational diabetes- occurs during the period of bearing a child, often disappears after childbirth. The mechanism of development is similar to type 2 disease.
• neonatal diabetes- develops in recently born children, is associated with hereditary pathology.

Important! Such a classification will allow comparing the patient's age, the presence of provocative factors and other related data in order not only to identify the presence of the disease, but also to determine its type.

How to identify illness at home

Most people do not know what devices can be used to recognize diabetes mellitus, however, they are aware of its symptoms.

Availability check clinical picture diseases - one of the stages of "home" diagnosis

Based on some manifestations, one can think about the presence of endocrine pathology:

• thirst;
• dry mouth;
• an increase in the amount of urine excreted;
• itching of the skin;
• increased appetite, accompanied by weight loss;
• for a long time non-healing wounds, abrasions, rashes;
• aggression, irritability, sleep disturbance.

It is also worth checking your condition for people who have diabetic relatives, especially those from direct pedigrees.

Required Diagnostic Tools

A lot of effort is not needed to determine diabetes mellitus at home. To do this, just buy at the pharmacy:

• test strips;
• glucometer;
• A1C (glycosylated hemoglobin) measurement kit.

All these devices and auxiliary materials used for the diagnosis of an adult or a child are easy to use. The set must include instructions. The cost varies from 500 to 6000 rubles, depending on the company and country of origin.

Test strips for measuring sugar

Special strips coated with reagents will help determine diabetes. They are considered the easiest to use. The ingress of liquid or blood causes a change in the color of the test strip. The indicators are evaluated by the final color.

Test strips to clarify the presence of diabetes - available method surveys

Important! Normally, fasting glucose should be in the range of 3.33-5.55 mmol / l. After food enters the body, the numbers increase, but return to normal within 2 hours.

To diagnose the level of sugar using test strips, you should follow simple rules:

1. Wash your hands with soap, dry well, warm.
2. Put the necessary devices on a clean gauze or napkin.
3. The finger from which the material will be taken must be massaged, treated with alcohol.
4. The puncture is carried out with a sterile syringe needle or a pharmacy scarifier.
5. The drop of blood that appears should be applied to a paper strip in the place treated with the reagent (indicated in the instructions).
6. The finger should be pressed with a piece of cotton.

The result can be found out within 1 minute (in different testers in different ways). Depending on the indicators of glycemia appears specific color to be compared with the scale accompanying the instruction. Each shade corresponds to specific numbers of glycemia.

Test strips for determining glucosuria

The presence of sugar in the urine is one of the important criteria that a person still has diabetes. Glucosuria is also determined using test strips.

Important! Insulin-dependent pathology and disease in the elderly may not show the presence of sugar in the urine in this way, since the threshold at which the kidneys pass glucose into the urine increases in such patients.

To get correct results and get rid of the disease in a timely manner, diagnosis should be carried out twice a day. The first time should be on an empty stomach, the second - 1.5-2 hours after food enters the body.

Glucosuria is a manifestation of diabetes mellitus.

Urine must be collected in a container and lowered into it a strip, holding for as long as indicated in the instructions. The tester is not shaken, not wiped. Lay on a flat surface, and after a few minutes, evaluate the result by the color obtained.

These devices provide more accurate information about your diabetes, which should be treated as soon as the diagnosis is confirmed. Glucose meters are portable devices, equipped with a housing with a screen and several control buttons, a battery, lancets (finger prick devices) and test strips.

The diagnostic result is displayed after 5-25 seconds. Most of the devices are able to calculate the average sugar level data from the results stored in memory, they can be connected to personal computers and other gadgets. There are those that have voice control and special sound effects designed for the convenience of the elderly, as well as patients with disabilities.

The principle of operation is as follows:

1. After turning on, the device may display the code of the test strips that need to be inserted into the meter. After installing the strip in a special slot, the device is ready for use.
2. A finger is pierced with a lancet, a drop of blood is applied to the strip.
3. The result of the blood sugar level is displayed on the screen.
4. The used strip and lancet are discarded.

Using a glucometer is the most affordable and most exact method diagnostics

Important! The material can be taken not only from the finger, but from the shoulder, forearm, thigh.

This is a test for diabetes mellitus that allows you to determine the glycemic indicators for the last 3 months based on the level of glycated (glycosylated) hemoglobin. A person must purchase a special analyzer at a pharmacy, which is designed for a certain number of measurements and has the same number of test strips in the composition.

The basic rule for using the device is a sufficient amount of blood for diagnosis. Analyzer requires more material than a conventional glucometer, so after a finger puncture, the blood is collected in a special pipette. The pipette is connected to the flask containing the reagent. After mixing, a drop of blood is applied to the test strip with a flask.

The result is displayed on the screen after 5 minutes. It is not worth starting diagnostics with such a device. It is expensive and may not be needed more than once (provided that the subject does not have diabetes).

Complex A1C is an expensive but informative analyzer

What affects sugar levels

The detection of blood glucose levels above normal does not mean that it is worth immediately dealing with the disease (especially folk remedies as patients love it). Hyperglycemia can appear not only against the background of diabetes, but also under the influence of a number of factors:

• changing climatic conditions;
• travel, trip;
• Availability infectious diseases;
• stress background;
• abuse of caffeine-based products;
• long-term use of steroids or combined oral contraceptives;
• lack of rest.

You need to contact a doctor who will help defeat and cure the disease if increased results recur for several days and are not associated with others contributing factors. The response of the survey using the A1C complex above 6% requires an appeal to an endocrinologist, and above 8% - an appeal to urgently due to high risk diabetic coma. It should be remembered that timely diagnosis- a guarantee of a favorable outcome of the disease.

All more people on earth strikes such endocrine disease like diabetes. This ailment causes a prolonged increase in blood glucose levels. If a glycemic coma develops, the person may even die. That's why early diagnosis diabetes mellitus is very important, it can save a person's life and prevent the development of formidable complications.

Glucose metabolism affects everything metabolic processes occurring in the human body. From glucose human body draws energy, and some organs and tissue components, for example, the brain and red blood cells, feed exclusively on glucose. Decaying, glucose releases products that synthesize a number of substances: fats, proteins, such complex organic compounds, like cholesterol, hemoglobin, etc. Therefore, if glucose metabolism is disturbed, all types of metabolism are disturbed - fat, protein, water-salt, acid-base, etc.

Diabetes mellitus has many of the most different forms and all of them are strikingly different from each other and in etiology, pathogenesis and clinical development. Therefore, it is very important to put correct diagnosis and identify the form of diabetes in order to prescribe the correct treatment.

Disease types

The most common types of the disease are type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. In the first type of the disease or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, the age of patients ranges from 0 to 19 years, i.e. persons are susceptible to the disease young age who are completely insulin deficient. This is due to the fact that the cells of the pancreas responsible for the synthesis of this hormone are destroyed. To provoke such a failure in the body can be various viral infections, stress, diseases causing a sharp decline immunity, etc.

At the same time, a sharp decline in the level of insulin occurs in the patient's body, and classic symptoms diabetes, we are talking about frequent and profuse urination, constant unquenchable thirst and weight loss. It is possible to treat this form of diabetes only with insulin preparations.

Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, affects older people. Often it develops against the background sedentary image life, obesity and malnutrition. Here, heredity also plays a big role. This disease, unlike type 1 disease, is not caused by a lack of insulin (it is just in excess), but by a loss of tissue sensitivity to this hormone. This malfunction does not occur abruptly, a person can for a long time not to guess about his diagnosis "diabetes mellitus", because he does not feel its manifestations at all.

As a rule, they turn to the doctor already in those cases when complications develop, and body weight begins to greatly exceed the norm. It is treated with drugs that reduce the resistance of body cells to glucose. Both types of DM can cause serious complications and threaten the patient's life.

How Diabetes is Diagnosed

Diagnosis of a disease such as diabetes should establish the form of the disease, assess the general condition of the body and determine the accompanying complications.

What signs indicate SD:

• The first symptom of the disease may be excessive urine output - polyuria. This is due to the fact that glucose dissolves in the urine, and it interferes with the process reverse suction fluids from primary urine in the kidneys;
• a lot of water is lost in the urine, so a person is constantly thirsty, he is tormented by polydipsia;
• As already mentioned, with type 1 diabetes, there is a sharp weight loss. Even in the body of a heavily fed patient, tissues are unable to process glucose without insulin, so they begin to use up reserves of fats and proteins.

In the case of type 1 diabetes, the patient comes to the clinic at the first symptoms, he can even name the day and time when they appeared. Patients with type 2 diabetes may not pay attention to vaginal itching, muscle weakness, dry mouth and dry skin for a long time. And only when they develop ischemic disease heart disease, retinopathy cerebral circulation, cataract, kidney failure, wounds and cuts do not heal for a long time, they come to the doctor or they are brought by an ambulance.

Before making a diagnosis confirming the presence of diabetes, the doctor examines skin the patient and draws attention to the increase or decrease in subcutaneous fat.

Additional examination

First of all, a study is carried out to determine the concentration of glucose in the blood. If the blood sugar level on an empty stomach exceeds 5.5 mmol / l, we can talk about a violation of glucose metabolism. After a few days, the analysis is repeated, monitoring the psychological comfort of the patient, because blood sugar levels can jump in response to stress.

It is possible to identify impaired tissue tolerance to glucose using a glucose tolerance test. The patient also donates blood for analysis in the morning on an empty stomach, and an hour later he is given a glucose solution to drink and blood is taken again for analysis. If, 2 hours after consuming glucose, the analysis gives a result of 7.8 mmol / l, then this is normal, the excess of this indicator to 11 mmol / l indicates prediabetes - a violation of glucose tolerance. It is possible to say that a person is definitely sick with diabetes only when this indicator exceeds 11 mmol / l.

What other diagnostic methods are used:

1. Determination of the level of glycosylated hemoglobin. This study allows you to find out if the patient's blood glucose has increased in the last three months.
2. Determination of glucose in urine.
3. Determination of acetone in urine. The presence of acetone in the urine indicates a complication of the disease and the development of ketoacidosis.
4. Determination of C-peptide. If this figure is reduced, then we can talk about insulin deficiency.
5. Determination of antibodies to beta cells of the islets of Langerhans. They disrupt the synthesis of insulin and lead to the development of type 1 diabetes.

A patient diagnosed with diabetes mellitus is subjected to additional surveys: examine the fundus, make an electrocardiogram and excretory urography.

It's important to know:

If you suddenly began to wake up at night from dry mouth and you feel thirsty, during the day you also experience increased thirst, it makes sense to check your blood sugar levels. Unquenchable thirst is often the first sign of diabetes.

Frequent trips to the toilet

Increased thirst is accompanied increased urination. Glucose is excreted by the kidneys, while “pulling” water along with it. The urine of such patients is sweet; you don’t need to try it, but if you began to drink a lot and often run to the toilet, immediately check your blood for sugar.

increased appetite

A good appetite can also be a sign of diabetes. However, hunger can be insatiable. It is caused by glucose starvation, since in diabetes mellitus the level of glucose in the blood is elevated, but the cells are not able to utilize it.

Weight loss

Weight loss up to exhaustion against the background good appetite is another sign of diabetes. If a person is hungry, eats a lot and often, but at the same time loses weight, it is urgent to be tested for diabetes.

Itching of the skin and mucous membranes

Skin itching and itching of the mucous membranes can be the first sign of diabetes. If your skin constantly or periodically itches, scratches appear, nervousness has increased, you should consult a doctor and check your blood for sugar.

gestational diabetes

Pregnancy can trigger gestational diabetes. Greater risk in women with overweight body, at late pregnancy, with excessive weight gain during pregnancy. According to plans for monitoring pregnant women, all women who are observed by a gynecologist periodically donate blood for sugar.

Poor wound healing

Slow wound healing in diabetics is due to vascular pathology. Elevated blood glucose levels adversely affect the endothelium. Vascular damage causes poor blood supply organs and tissues, including at the site of wounds and abrasions.

Prolonged colds

Poor blood supply also causes frequent pustular skin lesions, as well as lingering course infectious diseases, which is also characteristic of diabetes.

blurred vision

Sometimes the first sign of diabetes is blurred vision. The appearance of a veil before the eyes, blurred vision is a reason to urgently visit an ophthalmologist and get tested for diabetes.

Problems with potency

Violation of potency, a decrease in sexual desire are also signs of diabetes, caused simultaneously by energy starvation of cells and damage to blood vessels.

Weakness

Weakness, fatigue and fast fatiguability- a sign of starvation of cells of the nervous and muscular systems. Without the ability to absorb glucose, the cells cannot work efficiently and weakness occurs.

Decrease in body temperature

Body temperature deviation from medium size downward may be a sign of diabetes. If you begin to notice that your body temperature has become low, do not be too lazy to check your blood for sugar.

Overweight

In the vast majority of cases, type 2 diabetes is detected in overweight people. If your BMI is over 25 and your age is over 40, you need to check your blood sugar once a year.

Burdened heredity

Diabetes mellitus has genetic predisposition. So, if one of the parents is sick, the risk of developing type 1 diabetes is 10%, type 2 - 80%. Therefore, in the presence of diabetes in the family, blood for sugar should be taken regularly.

Sugar analysis

The easiest way to detect diabetes is to take a blood glucose test. The analysis is taken on an empty stomach (at least 8 hours after the last meal), while the level should not exceed 5.5 mmol / l. At values ​​of 5.5 - 6.1 mmol / l, the analysis must be repeated. At a value of more than 6.1 mmol / l, a glucose tolerance test, an analysis for glycosylated hemoglobin, and a urine test for sugar are prescribed.

Glucose tolerance test

Even if fasting blood sugar levels are not elevated, tissues can already lose sensitivity to insulin - this is the so-called prediabetes. To identify it, it is necessary to conduct a glucose tolerance test - a blood test for sugar after the patient drinks a glass warm water with diluted glucose. The content of glucose in the blood after 2 hours should not exceed 7.8 mmol / l. Blood is taken for analysis every half an hour and a graph of glucose tolerance is drawn up.

Glycosylated hemoglobin

Blood hemoglobin is capable of irreversibly binding to glucose. Accordingly, the more glucose in the blood, the more hemoglobin will be associated with it. If the level of glucose-bound hemoglobin exceeds the value of 5.9%, we can talk about elevated content blood glucose, which, in combination with the results of other tests, makes it possible to diagnose diabetes mellitus.

Analysis of urine

Sugar in the urine appears when the blood glucose level exceeds 10 mmol / l, which is already a fairly large value. In addition, the content of acetone in the urine is checked. The appearance of acetone in the urine is an unfavorable sign indicating protein breakdown. This means that the body cannot get energy from carbohydrates and is forced to break down proteins.

This disease is most often chronic form and associated with disruption endocrine system, and specifically - with an imbalance in the level of insulin (the basic hormone of the pancreas). What is the mechanism of occurrence of this disease and how to determine diabetes mellitus?

What is insulin balance and why is it needed?

Insulin is secreted by the pancreas. Its main function is the transport of glucose dissolved in the blood to all tissues and cells of the body. It is also responsible for the balance of protein metabolism. Insulin helps synthesize it from amino acids and then transports proteins into cells.

When the production of a hormone or its interaction with body structures is disrupted, blood glucose levels rise steadily (this is called hyperglycemia). It turns out that the main carrier of sugar is absent, and he himself cannot enter the cells. Thus, an unused supply of glucose remains in the blood, it becomes thicker and loses the ability to transport oxygen and nutritional components needed to support metabolic processes.

As a result, the walls of blood vessels become impermeable and lose their elasticity. They get hurt very easily. With this "candied" nerves can also suffer. All these phenomena together are called diabetes.

Diabetes - types of disease

The mechanism of occurrence in each diabetes is different, but there are symptoms that are characteristic of each of them. They also do not depend on the age and gender of the patient. These include:

1. Changes in body weight;
2. The patient drinks a lot of water, while constantly experiencing thirst;
3. Frequent urge to urinate, the daily volume of urine can reach up to 10 liters.

Who is at risk?

This disease is much easier to prevent than to treat. Diabetes immediately acquires chronic and becomes incurable. The appearance of the disease is subject to those categories of patients who are affected by such factors:

• Diseases that affect beta cells (pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, etc.);
• Heredity;
• Dysfunctions of the endocrine system: hyper- or hypofunction of the thyroid gland, pathology of the adrenal glands (cortex), pituitary gland.
• Atherosclerosis of pancreatic vessels;
• Viral infections: measles, flu, rubella, chicken pox, herpes;
• Sedentary lifestyle (lack of exercise);
• Obesity (especially during pregnancy);
• A large amount of stress;
• Hypertension;
• Drug addiction and alcoholism;
• Long-term exposure to certain drugs (pituitary somatostatin, prednisolone, furosemide, cyclomethiazide, antibiotics, hypothiazide).

Women are more susceptible to this disease than men. This is due to the fact that in the body of men there is more testosterone, which positively affects the production of insulin. In addition, according to statistics, girls use more sugar and carbohydrates, which raise blood glucose levels.

Diabetes screening may include blood and urine tests, as well as monitoring general condition sick. It has already been said that the disease is characterized by a change in weight. So often this symptom allows you to immediately determine the type of diabetes.

With type 1, the patient loses kilograms very sharply, while the second type is characterized by weight gain up to obesity.

There is specific symptoms that indicate the development of type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The intensity of their manifestation depends on the age of the disease, the level of insulin, the condition immune system and the presence of underlying diseases.

If there are no pathologies, then a couple of hours after eating, the glucose level should return to normal (immediately after eating, it grows, this is normal).

If there is diabetes, then the following symptoms appear:

1. Persistent dry mouth;
2. Peeling and dry skin;
3. insatiable hunger and increased appetite no matter how much the patient eats;
4. A person quickly gets tired, feels weak (especially in the muscles), apathetic and irritable.
5. Often disturbed by cramps, occur mainly in the calves;
6. blurred vision;
7. Chilliness in the limbs.

Recognize diabetes for early stage other symptoms help. The body itself begins to indicate that some disturbances are occurring inside it. The development of the disease can be determined by the following symptoms:

• Constantly nauseous, there is vomiting;
• Appearing wounds heal poorly, fester ( characteristic symptom to determine type 2 diabetes);
• Appear skin infections, it may crust;
• Severe itching of the abdomen, genitals, arms and legs;
• Hair on the limbs disappears;
• Paresthesia (tingling) and numbness of the extremities;
• Facial hair begins to grow;
• Flu symptoms appear;
• Xanthomas are small yellow growths all over the body;
• In men - balanoposthitis (due to frequent urination foreskin swells).

These signs are relevant for both types of the disease. Skin problems appear to a greater extent in type 2 diabetes.

What tests to take

They are given to determine the concentration of sugar in the blood plasma. It is better to make a complex consisting of such studies:

• Urine for ketone bodies and sugar;
• Blood for sugar from a finger;
• Blood for insulin, hemoglobin and C-peptide;
• Glucose sensitivity test.

To complete the picture, blood for glucose must be taken twice: on an empty stomach (norm up to 6.1 mmol / l) and a couple of hours after eating (norm 8.3 mmol / l).

Often the level of glucose in the blood remains normal, while the absorption of sugar changes - this is typical for initial stage illness.

Before taking tests, you must adhere to the following rules:

1. Exclude reception of all medicines in 6 hours;
2. Do not eat at least 10 hours before the test;
3. Don't stress yourself emotionally or physically.

If there is no disease, then the glucose indicator will be from 3.3 to 3.5 mmol / l.

How to determine diabetes at home?

To do this, in a pharmacy you need to buy:

• A1C kit - shows the average sugar level for 3 months.
• Urine test strips - all the nuances of the analysis are in the instructions. In the presence of glucose in the urine, it is MANDATORY to conduct a test with a glucometer.
• Glucometer - it has a lancet that pierces a finger. Special test strips measure the level of sugar and show the result on the screen. Determination of diabetes at home by this method takes no more than 5 minutes. Normally, the result should be 6%.

Remember that research done at home may not always be up-to-date and correct (wrong technique, preparation, faulty instruments).

Therefore, when receiving the result, do not rush to diagnose yourself and better be examined in a professional laboratory.

What causes the disease

This disease in professional circles is often called the "accelerated version of aging" because diabetes disrupts absolutely all metabolic processes in the body. It can cause such dangerous complications:

1. Violation of the function of the sex glands. Men can develop impotence, women can experience menstrual irregularities. AT advanced cases infertility, early aging and other diseases of the reproductive system appear.
2. Stroke, circulatory disorders in the brain, encephalopathy (vascular damage).
3. pathology of vision. These include: conjunctivitis, diabetic cataract, styes, corneal damage, retinal detachment and blindness, iris damage.
4. inflammation oral cavity. Fall out healthy teeth develop periodontal disease and stomatitis.
5. Osteoporosis.
6. Syndrome diabetic foot. Purulent-necrotic processes begin, osteoarticular lesions and ulcers form (bones are affected, soft tissues, nerves, blood vessels, skin, joints). This is the main cause of leg amputation in patients.
7. Pathologies of cardio-vascular system(atherosclerosis, cardiac arrhythmia, ischemic disease).
8. Gastrointestinal disorders - fecal incontinence, constipation, etc.
9. Renal failure resulting in an artificial kidney.
10. Damage to the nervous system.
11. Coma.

The disease is very serious, so patients must intensive treatment in the form of insulin therapy, a complete change in lifestyle and diet.

All these activities will be lifelong, because it is completely impossible to cure this disease.

What to do if you have diabetes?

At different types diabetes differ and therapeutic methods:

• Type 1. Insulin therapy is carried out - hormone injections of 0.5-1 unit per kilogram of weight. Carbohydrates and some vegetables/fruits are minimized. Mandatory exercise stress. With proper support of the body, the patient is not threatened with complications.
• 2 type. Insulin is used only in very advanced cases, and there is no need for it. The main treatment is diet therapy and the use of hypoglycemic drugs. They help glucose enter cells. Herbal infusions are often used.

Proper nutrition in case of illness

It plays one of the decisive roles in the treatment of the disease. For individual drafting diet is better to consult a nutritionist. If we talk about general principles nutrition in this disease, the following can be distinguished:

• Remove glucose from the diet and all foods that contain it. If it is very difficult without sugar, you can use its substitutes. They are also not useful for the body, but do not cause such harm.
• In order for the stomach to better digest fatty foods, you can (in a reasonable amount) use spices.
• Replace coffee with cecory drinks.
• Eat more garlic, cabbage, onions, spinach, celery, tomatoes, fish (except fatty varieties), pumpkins and other fresh vegetables.
• Minimize or not eat such foods at all.

Proper nutrition should never be neglected. Most of our sugar comes from food.

Physical exercise

Sports are great for burning excess sugar. There is universal exercises which are designed for diabetics. They need to be done daily.

1. Rise on toes, hands rest against the back of the chair - up to 20 repetitions;
2. Squat holding the support - 10-15 times;
3. You need to lie on your back against the wall, after that you need to raise your legs and press your feet against the wall for 3-5 minutes;
4. Daily walk outside with alternating walking pace.

It is worth remembering that this is not an exercise in the gym, which often requires performance through "I can't."

The body should not be overloaded, and if it is difficult for the patient to complete the indicated number of repetitions, let him do less. You need to increase the load gradually.

Folk methods

They often help relieve symptoms, but full treatment unable to provide. They should be used in conjunction with basic therapy and only with the permission of the doctor. For the preparation of infusions use onions, vodka, oak bark, acorns, plantain, burdock, linden, walnuts.

How to protect yourself?

Most important - constant control your health status and correct image life. To avoid the development of the disease, follow these rules:

• Replace animal fats with vegetable fats;
• Don't be too nervous;
• Go in for sports;
• Twice a year check the concentration of sugar in urine and blood;
• Limit or give up alcohol and tobacco;