Diabetes is the most widespread disease at the moment and we are facing an alarming increase in the incidence. The studies carried out over the years in our country show that 1 in 10 Romanians suffer from diabetes, and what is more worrying is the fact that this disease started to be diagnosed at younger and younger ages. Sibiu County is among the top counties in Romania where the life expectancy of patients with diabetes has increased significantly.
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease, a syndrome characterized by high blood glucose values (hyperglycemia) and metabolic imbalance.
The World Health Organization recognizes three main forms of diabetes: type 1, type 2 and gestational (pregnancy). Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system begins to destroy the beta cells in the pancreas. These beta cells normally produce the insulin that the body needs to metabolize the carbohydrates (sugars) in the food we eat. In the absence of these cells, respectively of insulin production, type 1 diabetes sets in. Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic condition characterized by the association, to varying degrees, of insulin deficiency with insulin resistance. Insulin resistance occurs when our body does not respond as it should to this hormone, which affects the absorption of glucose. This increases the risk of diabetes and other diseases.
Gestational diabetes occurs exclusively during pregnancy in women who did not have diabetes before the pregnancy period. Gestational diabetes requires treatment in order to reduce and control the associated risks both during pregnancy and at birth.
The most common forms are represented by type 2 diabetes, respectively type 1 diabetes. The most common is type 2 diabetes, which many of us probably know under the name of adult or elderly diabetes or diabetes associated with obesity, but, unfortunately, nowadays, type 2 diabetes occurs at younger and younger ages. This is sad because these young people have time during their lives to develop the complications of this pathology if they do not have optimal glycemic control.
How do we know if we have diabetes?
There are some most frequently encountered symptoms. These are represented by: excessive thirst and dry mouth (polydipsia), frequent urination (polyuria), lack of energy, fatigue, extreme hunger (polyphagia), weight loss, tingling or numbness in hands and feet, slow healing of wounds, infections recurrent skin rashes, blurred vision.
Type 2 diabetes is very often asymptomatic for a long time, while type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed by symptoms. The patient in question does not know that he has diabetes, but his body gives him certain signals: he starts losing weight, drinking a lot of water, waking up at night to urinate. In the given situation, the patient must contact the family doctor or the diabetologist in order to perform a set of analyses. If the disease is diagnosed, the appropriate treatment will be initiated. On the opposite pole, except in exceptional cases, when the blood sugar is very high, type 2 diabetes does not show symptoms, and if the patient does not have regular blood tests, he will not know that he has high blood sugar. Many cases of type 2 diabetes are diagnosed accidentally. Unfortunately, at the present time, there are a multitude of undiagnosed cases of diabetes. Both types of diabetes can be controlled, just as both can lead to disabling complications, amputations, vision loss or other complications (cardiovascular disease, heart failure).
Glucemia is an analysis included in the annual balance that we should all do. . The new medical guidelines recommend that type 2 diabetes screening be done starting at the age of 45 in people without associated risk factors. If there are risk factors such as overweight, obesity, family history (1st or 2nd degree relatives with type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes during pregnancy, birth weight of the fetus greater than 4 kg, the respective person must monitor their value annually blood sugar. It is important to screen for diabetes so that it can be diagnosed in the early stages or even in the pre-diabetes phase in order to avoid the countless health problems associated with uncontrolled diabetes.
The tests most frequently used for diagnosis are represented by the basal blood glucose value, “fasting”, glycosylated hemoglobin which is a blood test that provides information on the average blood glucose levels of the last 3 months.
The value of blood glucose within normal limits is below 100 mg/dl, respectively of glycosylated hemoglobin below 5.6%, the glucose tolerance test.
If we want to prevent type 2 diabetes, we must adopt a balanced diet, daily physical activity, rest and, last but not least, constantly monitor our body weight. Especially in the case of diabetics, people with obesity and the elderly , periodic analyzes and body weight measurement are required. An overweight or obese person or a patient already diagnosed with diabetes should not miss the scale and glucometer.
At the Proctoven Clinic, patients with Diabetes Mellitus benefit from free consultations and treatment through CNAS.
Dr. Denisa Tănăsescu
Specialist in Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases
Head of the Faculty of Medicine
Proctoven Clinic
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2023-07-18 10:32:00
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