Worldwide, the number of diabetic patients is rising in a worrying manner. At the 6th World Congress on the Prevention of the
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At the beginning of April in Dresden, diabetes also presented a bleak prognosis for Germany. The experts warn against the current numbers of an epidemic. Around nine million people in this country are now suffering from the common disease number 1. The number of unreported cases is estimated at 13 million. The main causes of this development are the increasing preponderance of Germans and their poor daily routine. The tricky thing about diabetes: The most common type, type 2 diabetes, usually creeps slowly. Many sufferers therefore know nothing about their illness. It is not uncommon for symptoms to appear only when dangerous consequential damage has already occurred. The disease can be easily detected by a morning fasting blood glucose measurement.
The internal specialist clinic Steger in Nuremberg specializes in the treatment of diabetes in all its manifestations. Dr. med. Kirsten Peter Böhmer, a specialist in internal medicine, nephrology, hypertensiology and diabetology, answers the most important questions about diabetes as an expert.
What is diabetes?
Dr. Böhmer: Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder that is responsible for a permanent increase in blood sugar. The reason for this is the lack of a sufficient amount of the pancreatic produced, usable hormone insulin or its inadequate efficacy.
Which forms of diabetes are there?
Dr. Böhmer: Diabetes mellitus is a collective term for different types of diseases . Diabetes mellitus type 1 predominantly occurs in persons under the age of 25 years and is an autoimmune disease, which is not yet influenceable. The insulin-producing cells in the pancreas are irretrievably destroyed, but those affected can be well treated by lifelong insulin therapy. The most common and often much more difficult form to treat is type 2 diabetes. It is primarily caused by overweight and lack of exercise, but also the age and possible hereditary dispositions play a role. Under type 3 different sub-forms are summarized, in which the metabolic disorder is triggered for example by pancreas diseases, drugs, hormonal disorders, infections or genetic defects.
How is diabetes noticeable?
Dr. Böhmer: While in type 1 diabetes typical symptoms such as strong thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, itching, weight loss and an increased susceptibility to infection, make the type 2 diabetics show no or very unspecific symptoms. Not infrequently, the first symptom is already an expression of one of the sequelae of diabetes mellitus.
What effects can an undiscovered diabetes have?
Dr. Böhmer: In untreated diabetes, vascular-dependent functional restrictions may occur due to the impaired metabolism, for example calcification of the arterial blood vessels. Organs such as the skin, kidneys, brain and heart suffer from circulatory disorders. It can lead to kidney failure, stroke, blindness or even the amputation of the feet or legs - damage that can not be reversed. Therefore, the early detection is all the more important!
How can you treat diabetes?
Dr. Böhmer: The extent of the disorder can be determined by a few blood values. If the diabetes is diagnosed, the causes of the disease are limited: how much insulin is still produced? How sensitive is the body to insulin? Are there indications of other metabolic disorders that result in diabetes? Therapeutically, the goal is to bring the blood sugar level into the normal range. This is initially aimed at by dietary measures, because often it only requires a change in diet or lifestyle changes to get the disease under control. If these measures are not enough, various medicines are available. In type 1 diabetes, insulin is used immediately, which is injected under the skin. In order to find the best individual setting for each diabetic, to check and to adjust if necessary, the tests are repeated regularly. New insights and developments make therapies more efficient and comfortable for the patient. For example, in diabetes mellitus type 1, in some cases, insulin pumps can be coupled to sensors that continuously measure blood glucose levels. In type 2 diabetes, new drugs help with weight loss and often make an insulin therapy dispensable. However, it is especially important to find the optimal treatment for each patient from the multitude of possibilities.
What can I do to actively prevent diabetes?
Dr. Böhmer: Obesity, energy-rich diet and lack of exercise are the triggering factors of diabetes mellitus type 2. Therefore, a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains and low animal fats is recommended. The perfect complement is regular physical activity, although the sport does not matter. The main thing is the joy of the movement.
