Every day, hundreds of patients with various ailments turn to the Center for Emergency Medicine, and almost one in three has a disease such as diabetes. In Russia, over 10 million people suffer from diabetes; more than twenty thousand patients with diabetes are officially registered in MS (I). Unfortunately, these numbers are growing steadily. Is it possible to prevent the development of this endocrine disease and what to do if it was not possible to avoid it?
Today we are talking with a doctor, endocrinologist, general practitioner of the Republic of Belarus No. 2-CEMP Stanislav Alekseevich IVANOV.
SI: Indeed, diabetes has recently become the scourge of our time. If earlier, older people were more ill, today young people of working age have begun to turn more and more.
– What is diabetes, and how do you know that you are sick?
SI: – Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic (metabolic) diseases characterized by a chronic increase in blood sugar, which is a result of impaired insulin secretion. High blood sugar in diabetes (diabetes mellitus) is accompanied by damage, dysfunction and insufficiency of various organs, especially the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and blood vessels. I can say with confidence that the detection rate for these endocrine diseases has improved 100% than 30 years ago. People have become more attentive and thorough about their health. And this is correct when a person feels changes in his body. After all, the body always gives us signals of “disasters.” Someone immediately turns to specialists, and someone delays. It is an untimely appeal to a specialist that leads to complications.
What are the symptoms of this disease?
SI: The first symptoms of diabetes are constant exhausting thirst, a feeling of constant dry mouth, excessive and frequent urination, rapid weight loss, decreased vision, poor wound healing, irritability, nervousness. These signs should alert any person. Other signs may be secondary, but they also cannot be discounted. These are chronic fatigue, decreased attention and working capacity, but these signs can also be signals of other diseases, for example, the thyroid gland. Therefore, a consultation with a specialist must be passed. People who have type 2 diabetes may not know at all that they have high sugar, not feel the changes in the body. Unfortunately, some people, even if the disease is identified and the doctor made recommendations, do not adhere to treatment. Simply put, they do not take medicine, since the disease can practically not bother a person. It is such patients who often come to us in RB No. 2 with decompensation, with all kinds of complications, up to formidable life-threatening conditions, such as hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic coma, diabetic foot. Also fall with complications from the cardiovascular system, such as stroke and heart attack. We treat such “dangerous” patients together with resuscitation doctors, surgeons, cardiologists, and neurologists. Therefore, I advise everyone to undergo a medical examination every year.
-What types are diabetes mellitus divided into?
SI: – For several types. The first type, when a person becomes ill, if the cells of the pancreas cannot produce insulin – the hormone responsible for the transfer of nutritious glucose from the blood to the cells, as a rule, develop this type of diabetes in childhood or adolescence. The second type occurs if the body ceases to miss the produced insulin, or its sensitivity to it decreases. At the same time, everything is in order with the beta cells of the pancreas. Usually people over 40 years old suffer from this type. Recently, a third type of diabetes, pancreatogenic, has been isolated, when a person has suffered acute pancreatitis or pancreatic necrosis for one reason or another.
—If a person is diagnosed with diabetes?
SI:– Some people, having heard the diagnosis, are surprised and ask, “Will my life now become unsweetened?” Some patients are very upset, fall into depression, not knowing about the essence of the disease. Here you need to reassure a person. It is important that the patient understands and accepts the situation. At this moment, the endocrinologist must provide not only medical, but also psychological assistance. And many people know this disease firsthand. Basically, these are people whose parents or relatives suffer from diabetes. They perceive the diagnosis more easily. As they say, informed, then – armed.
-What and how is this disease treated?
SI: They treat diabetes mellitus comprehensively: this is a medication that lowers blood sugar, if necessary, prescribe insulin therapy. Those who suffer from this disease know that you need to eat less fat and sweet, try to move more, avoid stress. Over time, many people begin to control the disease and feel their body.
– Is it possible to completely recover from this disease?
SI: If you learn about the risk of the disease in a timely manner, you can try to prevent it. I believe that in many cases lifestyle changes could stop or slow down the development of diabetes. I repeat once again that every year it is necessary to undergo a medical examination, check the general state of health, listen to the “signals” that the body gives. As practice shows, proper nutrition and physical education help not only to be slim, but also prevent many diseases.
– I heard many times that diabetes occurs in overweight people …
SI: Not always. Sin only overweight – wrong. There are many factors for the development of diabetes mellitus, but the most basic ones are: a sedentary lifestyle, overeating, especially later, leading to obesity, a genetic factor, autoimmune diseases (an attack of the body’s immune system on its own body tissues). Recently, those suffering from stress and psychological stress suffer from diabetes mellitus. I want to appeal to those who suffer from diabetes. Now, during a pandemic, it is very dangerous to go out, visit public places, contact people with signs of SARS. Any viral infection can worsen the course of the underlying disease. Therefore, I ask everyone who suffers from diabetes mellitus or other metabolic disorders not to violate the regime of self-isolation. Take care of yourself and your loved ones!
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