Diabetes

There is certainly also a genetic susceptibility to metabolic syndrome. However, most sufferers are overweight, eat too much and move too little. Because insulin no longer works optimally in this situation, the pancreas increases hormone production to repair the damage. In the long run, the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas begin to deplete, the glandular tissue inflames, and in the end the cells die. Unlike type 1 diabetes, in which insulin-producing cells die rapidly due to an autoimmune reaction, this process can be slowed down at any time in type 2 diabetes. Early diagnosis and preventive measures are required here.

Symptoms

• strong thirst
• Weakness, fatigue and concentration disorders
• Frequent urge to urinate – Pollakisuria
• Itching (pruritus) and dry skin
• Cravings
• Visual impairment
• Susceptibility to infections
• Breath smells of acetone (smell of apple or even nail polish remover)

Complications and subsequent diseases:

• Nerve damage (polyneuropathy)
• Damage to blood vessels (angiopathies)
  • Retinal damage (diabetic retinopathy)
  • Kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy)
  • Poor wound healing e.g. Diabetic foot
  • heart failure (heart failure), coronary artery disease (CHD) and heart attack
  • Increased susceptibility to colonization with germs (skin infections)
  • Erectile dysfunction
• Depressive mood or depression
• Acidification of the blood – diabetic ketoacidosis

Urine diagnostics

• In the case of ketoacidosis – miction parameters heaped urination
• Urine odour after fresh fruit or acetone in the presence of ketonuria (possible sign of metabolic acidosis, usually caused by starvation or unadjusted diabetes mellitus)
• Testing for glucose and ketone bodiesto detect and correct changes in metabolic status at an early stage
• Microalbiminuriatest for early diagnosis of nephropathy as a follow-up complication of diabetes mellitus

Therapy

• dietary change
• regular physical activity
• blood sugar-lowering tablets (oral antidiabetics)
• Insulin therapy

Did you know?

• The number of people with diabetes mellitus has doubled worldwide in the last 30 years
• Type 1 diabetes is the most common chronic disease in childhood and adolescence

Smoking increases risk of developing type 2 diabetes by about 50 percent