“If diabetes is diagnosed early , there is every chance of getting rid of it or maintaining a good quality of life.”
“According to statistics , there are about 270 thousand people with diabetes in Belarus. About the same number of people suffer from it in a latent form. 95% of all patients have type 2 diabetes, which is associated in most cases with overweight. ”
Vladimir Lapa
Deputy Director of ALC ” Seisimed “, endocrinologist
A little about the disease
In simple and understandable terms, diabetes is a disease characterized by a chronic increase in blood glucose levels. Type 2 diabetes is a very insidious disease. For a long time, it can be asymptomatic, that is, the person does not know about it.
A moderate rise in blood glucose alone does not cause any major complaints. A person may have dry mouth, thirst, and increased urination. The more glucose in the blood, the more pronounced these symptoms. Late complications of diabetes mellitus, in which the main target organs are affected: eyes, kidneys, legs, are a big nuisance.
Snezhana Kavrigo is a
specialist in nutritional and metabolic prevention, doctor of the City Health Center. Head of the city preventive project among universities and colleges of Minsk “My lifestyle today – my health and success tomorrow”
During the project “My lifestyle today – my health and success tomorrow”, students are communicated on the topic of a healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition, as well as risk factors for a particular disease are identified.
The survey of the project showed that 22% of the surveyed students have close relatives with diabetes mellitus.
Since December 1, 40 people of the teaching staff of BSUIR have undergone an in-depth medical examination , within the framework of which they were identified risk factors for the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In addition, it was carried out Screening , during which they have defined fasting glucose and lipid profile . As a result, 10% (4 out of 40) had latent diabetes mellitus.
This served as an occasion to once again recall and draw attention to the problem of type 2 diabetes mellitus as a socially significant disease.
Risk factors
If you are overweight, over 40 years of age, or have a family member with diabetes, you are at risk.
If at least one of these risk factors is present, it is necessary to take a blood test for glucose or glycated hemoglobin annually – the latter shows the average glucose level over the past several months. This will help diagnose diabetes early, avoid serious complications, or even get rid of it.
Atherosclerosis goes along with diabetes mellitus. Therefore, experts advise to control not only glucose, but also total cholesterol. Over the age of 40, it should be checked once a year. If a person is found to have high cholesterol, this is a reason to pass a detailed analysis on a lipid panel – total cholesterol, triglycerides, high and low density lipoproteins. And depending on the results, take action. Because cholesterol leads to atherosclerosis, and this is the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Facts and life
Today it is relevant to talk about the prevention and early diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. If you diagnose diabetes today, you can preserve your quality of life tomorrow.
According to Vladimir Lapa, with early diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, with constant dynamic observation by doctors, examination and treatment, patients with diabetes live even longer than those who do not have this disease. After all, if any complications develop, then in diabetics they are diagnosed at an early stage, when they are easy to treat and correct. On the other hand, people who do not have diabetes quite often start their chronic diseases.
Prevention
After the age of 40, physical activity decreases annually, but dietary habits remain the same or worsen. Therefore, in order to prevent diabetes and other chronic diseases, you need to lead a healthy lifestyle: eat right and engage in physical activity.
At the same time, moderate physical activity is enough: cycling, walking for at least 30 minutes a day, swimming in the pool.
Nutrition can help normalize a nutritionist. A person needs to eat about 1200 kcal per day. The diet should have more boiled, less fried. Meals should preferably be fractional, that is, five to six meals. Breaks between meals should not exceed 3-3.5 hours.
Modern technologies
Fortunately, today a person with diabetes has the opportunity to live a full, quality life. He can use all modern technologies, from effective medications, home blood glucose self-monitoring tools and ending with special syringe pens for injecting insulin.
As early as 15-20 years ago, home glucose self-control was inaccessible. A blood glucose meter could not be bought at every pharmacy, and the cost of the test strips made you save money and interfered with regular testing. To conduct the analysis on his own, he needed a deep puncture and a large drop of blood – painful and unpleasant for the patient. Now everything is much simpler: there are glucometers that only need 0.3 microliters of blood – 5 times less than in the previous generation glucometers sold a year ago. This is very important for those people who are afraid of pain when a finger is punctured, or for children.
According to Vladimir Lapa, the cost of modern blood glucose meters and consumables for them has also dropped significantly – it has become available to everyone. After all, the more expensive the consumables, the less often the patient can afford them, which means that he takes care of his health worse.
Modern syringe pens allow you to inject insulin almost painlessly, invisibly and comfortably in any situation.
“We would like to especially note that today a patient with diabetes and all related things are available: orthopedic shoes or insoles, special creams for foot care, which contribute to the prevention and treatment of corns, calluses and cracks. There are special cosmetic lines for foot care for diabetes. After all, the target organs that are affected in the first place are the legs. Any callus, callus, crack or wound can lead to serious problems. “