Complications of diabetes mellitus and their treatment

Diabetes mellitus is caused by a deficiency in the body of insulin, a hormone responsible for the proper metabolism and, above all, for reducing blood sugar. According to statistics, about 5% of the population suffer from diabetes.

As a rule, diabetes leads to the development of various complications, and some complications of diabetes may appear after two to three months after the onset of the disease, others develop for several years. The complications of diabetes mellitus and their treatment should not be solely the concern of doctors, an important role is assigned to the patient himself, who must always monitor his condition and inform the doctor in time.

It is possible to identify complications of diabetes mellitus in the early stages with proper control on the part of the patient himself, who, at the first signs of deterioration, should notify his attending physician. A timely call to a doctor will help to cope with the development of complications, but in order to find it in time, the patient needs to know what complications of diabetes are.

The main cause of complications of diabetes is vascular damage. It is caused by their blockage and a decrease in the elasticity of the walls. Consider which organs are primarily susceptible to the development of complications in diabetes mellitus.

Kidney

Diabetes mellitus raises the risk of developing kidney failure. The fact is that the excess of sugar in the blood leads to clogging and damage to small blood vessels, as a result of which the kidneys can not normally cope with their excretory function. Nephropathy( kidney damage) in diabetes is dangerous because, as a rule, there is no pain in the kidney area, so patients often consult a doctor already in the late stages of the disease progression. Identify nefopatiyu in the early stages can be by urine analysis.

It is worth remembering that the first sign of kidney damage is a high content of protein and glucose in the urine. To prevent complications on the kidneys of a diabetic patient, you should regularly take urine tests to control the sugar level. At the first alarm signals it is necessary to address to the nephrologist. To prevent the development of nephropathy include lowering blood pressure, quitting smoking, limiting the intake of animal protein.

Cardiovascular system

Diabetes mellitus is a powerful factor in the development of atherosclerosis, that is, blockage of blood vessels. Hypertension is a constant companion of diabetes, leading to a risk of developing coronary artery disease( angina and heart attack), as well as a stroke.

To prevent these severe consequences, the patient should constantly monitor the pressure, normally it should not rise above 140/90.To reduce the risk of developing hypertension to a minimum, you should get rid of the two main risk factors: excess weight and excess salt in the food. A patient with diabetes is advised to monitor their weight, and also to limit salt intake. To prevent the development of hypertension, patients with diabetes mellitus are often prescribed antihypertensive drugs, their action is aimed at normalizing the pressure. Also, drugs aimed at lowering cholesterol and aspirin in small doses are used to dilute blood and reduce the risk of blood clots.

Eyes

Diabetes mellitus is dangerous for the development of retinopathy - damage to the retina, leading to poor eyesight and even blindness. For the timely detection of the first signs of damage to the retina patient must regularly undergo an examination with the oculist. It should be remembered - the decrease in vision in the early stages is almost imperceptible, so it is necessary to conduct an examination of the fundus. Inspection from the oculist should be carried out twice a year, with a noticeable reduction in visual acuity, the doctor should be consulted immediately. Timely detection of changes on the fundus will allow timely initiation of therapy, which will stop the development of retinopathy. In the initial stages of the development of the disease treatment is carried out by laser coagulation.

Neuropathy

Neuropathy is a lesion of nerve cells, most often it affects the nerves of the extremities. The development of neuropathy leads to a decrease in the sensitivity of the feet and brushes, their deformation and in the future the appearance of so-called trophic ulcers, up to gangrene. The so-called "diabetic foot" - a constant companion of diabetes mellitus, this complication is noted in 70% of patients with diabetes in a few years of the disease.

It is especially important to detect the onset of neuropathy in time, in this case the treatment will be simple and effective. The first signs of a progressive process of lesions of the limbs - pain, tingling and burning, often numb the feet. If these symptoms appear, consult a doctor immediately. Reduce the risk of developing neuropathy can be by giving up smoking and getting rid of excess weight. As prevention of the development of neuropathy, patients are prescribed drugs that prevent cell damage.

Ketoacidosis

Ketoacidosis is an increase in the concentration of metabolic products in the blood. In healthy people, they do not enter the blood, but in patients with diabetes mellitus, a sudden increase in their volume may occur, blood and urine may develop acetone, which can lead to severe complications, including coma.

The first signs of onset ketoacidosis are thirst, severe drowsiness, headache, smell from the mouth( similar to the smell of acetone).If these symptoms appear, call an ambulance immediately.

In conclusion, we note that in diabetes mellitus, control over one's own condition should largely be the concern of the patient himself. In no case do not neglect routine examinations, inform the doctor of all suspicious signs of complications. Timely detection of complications that have begun will allow timely treatment. Modern medicine can provide effective treatment of complications of diabetes in the early stages.