Signs of diabetes. External signs of diabetes mellitus in women: how the disease manifests itself

Diabetes mellitus is a disease based on a lack of the hormone insulin, caused by a number of factors (immune, endocrine, genetic, environmental factors). This disease affects 5% of the population of developed countries, and the number of cases is growing rapidly. Mortality from diabetes ranks third after cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

What is insulin?

Insulin is a protein hormone that is produced and accumulated in the β-cells of the pancreas. This hormone has the ability to influence all types of metabolism - carbohydrate, protein, fat.

Insulin is broken down in the liver, kidneys and adipose tissue.

The main stimulator of its secretion is glucose.

Why does diabetes develop?

- a genetically determined disease.

Type 1 diabetes occurs due to the body's production of antibodies that attack the cells of the pancreas that synthesize insulin.

In type II diabetes, the cells of fat, muscle and many other tissues are insensitive to insulin, because the receptors for this hormone are blocked in their membrane.

Provoking factors for type I diabetes are some viral infections (mumps, rubella, cytomegalovirus infection), while type II diabetes often develops against the background of obesity.

Symptoms and clinical course of the disease

Insulin deficiency can occur acutely or be chronic.

In case of acute insulin deficiency, the following are observed:

• dry mouth, thirst;
• dry skin;
• weight loss due to increased appetite;
• weakness, drowsiness;
• skin itching;
• furunculosis.

If diagnosis is delayed and there is no treatment, the patient falls into a hyperglycemic coma.

Chronic deficiency does not have severe symptoms, it lasts a long time and ends with complications of the disease in the form of:

• retinal lesions (diabetic retinopathy) - manifested by deterioration of vision, often a veil appears before the eyes;
• kidney damage (diabetic nephropathy) – manifested by the appearance of protein in the urine, gradual progression of renal failure;
• damage to peripheral nerves (diabetic neuropathy) - manifested by tingling, pain in the limbs;
• vascular lesions (diabetic angiopathy) - manifested by chilliness, coldness of the extremities, convulsions in them, trophic ulcers.

Features of the course of type I diabetes mellitus

• Characterized by pronounced clinical manifestations.
• It develops mainly in young people - under the age of 30–35 years.
• Difficult to treat.
• The onset of the disease is often acute, sometimes manifested by coma.
• When receiving insulin therapy, the disease is usually compensated for - the so-called diabetic honeymoon occurs, that is, remission occurs in which the patient does not need insulin.
• After a viral infection or other provoking factors (stress, physical trauma), diabetes develops again - signs of its decompensation appear with the subsequent development of complications.

Clinical features of type II diabetes mellitus

• Develops without signs of decompensation, gradually.
• People over 40 years of age and more often women are more often affected.
• Obesity is one of the first manifestations of the disease and a risk factor at the same time.
• Usually patients have no idea about their illness. Elevated levels of glucose in the blood are diagnosed when they contact a neurologist for neuropathies, a gynecologist for itching of the perineum, or a dermatologist for fungal infections of the skin.
• More often, the disease is stable, clinical manifestations are moderate.

Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus

1. Determination of blood glucose levels. The normal value is 3.3–5.5 mmol/l.
2. Determination of glucose level in urine. Normally, sugar in the urine is not detected.
3. Determination of ketone bodies in the blood. Normally – no more than 0.1 mmol/l.
4. Determination of ketone bodies and acetone in urine. Normally there are traces of ketone bodies.
5. Blood test for the content of glycosylated hemoglobin. The norm is 4–6%.
6. Determination of IRI (immunoreactive insulin). The normal value is 86–180 nmol/l. In type I diabetes it is reduced, in type II diabetes it is normal or increased.
7. Urinalysis - to diagnose kidney damage.
8. Skin capillaroscopy, Doppler ultrasound – to diagnose vascular damage.
9. Fundus examination to diagnose retinal lesions.

If the results obtained are questionable (i.e., do not allow an accurate diagnosis), a glucose tolerance test is performed: the fasting glucose level is measured, then the patient is given a carbohydrate load (the so-called test breakfast), 2 hours after which the glucose level is checked again. In diabetes mellitus, the fasting blood glucose level will be more than 6.1 mmol/l, and 2 hours after the test breakfast - more than 11.1 mmol/l.

Principles of treatment

If the first symptoms of this disease occur, it is recommended to consult a doctor as soon as possible and be examined to confirm the diagnosis, after which it is necessary to immediately begin comprehensive treatment.

What is common in the treatment of both types of diseases is a diet, the basis of which is the exclusion from the diet of all easily digestible carbohydrates and fats of animal origin. Meals are fractional, in small portions.

Insulin is a mandatory component of treatment for patients with type I diabetes. Its dosage is selected individually depending on the patient’s weight, blood sugar level and the presence of complications of the disease.

In some cases, the glucose level of patients with type II diabetes can be normalized only by following a diet. The majority of patients are prescribed tableted hypoglycemic drugs. In cases of severe disease, people suffering from this type of diabetes are also forced to receive insulin.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to cure diabetes, but maintaining blood glucose levels within normal limits will significantly alleviate the patient’s condition and prolong his life for a long time.

Which doctor should I contact?

Diabetes mellitus types I and II are treated by an endocrinologist, but if the diagnosis has not yet been established, you can also contact a general practitioner/pediatrician for an initial examination. Additionally, the patient is consulted by a neurologist, ophthalmologist, dermatologist, gynecologist, and vascular surgeon. It is important for a patient with diabetes to attend special courses - “Diabetes School”, where he will be taught to live with this disease while maintaining a satisfactory quality of life.

Diabetes mellitus is a progressive and disabling disease, the prevalence of which seriously alarms doctors around the world. This pathology can be attributed to the so-called diseases of civilization, because its main cause lies in the incorrect lifestyle that modern people adhere to.

A timely diagnosis of diabetes mellitus gives the patient a chance to delay the onset of severe complications. But it is not always possible to recognize the first signs of diabetes. This is due to people's lack of basic knowledge about this disease and the low level of patients seeking medical help.

Attention! Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease and there is no way to completely cure it yet.

What is diabetes mellitus?

Diabetes mellitus is a group of chronic endocrine diseases, the main manifestations of which are an absolute or relative lack of insulin in the body and an increase in blood glucose levels. As a result of the disease, the entire metabolism is disrupted: protein, lipid, carbohydrate, mineral metabolism. There is also a violation of the acid-base balance.

According to statistics, from 1 to 8% of people suffer from diabetes, but scientists suggest that the true number of patients is much higher. And this figure is increasing every year. The number of children with diabetes is also increasing.

Attention! Insulin is the only hormone that lowers blood glucose levels and promotes its uptake by cells

Insulin is produced in the pancreatic tissue by its beta cells. Violation of the formation of this hormone as a result of their damage or disruption of its uptake by peripheral cells leads to the onset of diabetes mellitus.

Classification of diabetes mellitus

There are several types of diabetes mellitus:

• Type one, previously called insulin-dependent. It develops primary deficiency of the hormone insulin, leading to hyperglycemia. The most common cause of this pathology is autoimmune damage to the pancreas.
• The second type, previously called insulin-independent, but this definition is not accurate, since insulin replacement therapy may be required as this type progresses. In this type of disease, insulin levels initially remain normal or even higher than normal. However, the cells of the body, primarily adipocytes (fat cells), become insensitive to it, which leads to an increase in glucose levels in the blood.

Attention! Factors that provoke the onset of the disease are: severe stress, excessive physical activity, hormonal imbalance, past illnesses and other significant changes in the body.

Differences between different types of diabetes are determined by the severity of symptoms and the rate of progression of the pathology

Also distinguished:

• Gestational diabetes mellitus (in pregnant women).
• Diabetes as a manifestation of genetic or endocrine pathology. In this case, diabetes itself is a symptom of some disease.

There are three degrees of severity of the disease:

• light;
• average;
• heavy.

Initial signs of type I diabetes mellitus

This type of disease most often affects young people and is considered genetically determined. It can appear already in early childhood.

Although the causes of diabetes mellitus of different types differ, the main symptoms of the disease and its long-term consequences remain the same

The first signs of type I diabetes are:

• Increased appetite, the need to eat a lot, but the person does not gain weight or loses weight without special physical activity and diets. This occurs due to energy deficiency in the cells, which is caused by reduced glucose absorption.
• Increased frequency of night urination and increased daily diuresis corresponding to increased fluid consumption. Polyuria occurs when the osmotic pressure of urine increases due to increased filtration of glucose into the urine.
• Sudden onset of severe thirst, as a result of which a person drinks up to 5 liters of liquid per day. Polydipsia has several development mechanisms. The first is to replenish water deficiency due to polyuria, and the second is realized by irritating osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus.
• The appearance of acetonemia, the signs of which are the smell of acetone from the mouth, the urine takes on the smell of rotten apples. Acetonemia occurs when the pathway of energy production switches from carbohydrate to fat under conditions of glucose deficiency in the cell. In this case, ketone bodies are formed, which have a toxic effect on the body. Symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting are associated with their influence.
• As the ketoacidotic state progresses, the first symptom of the onset of the disease is diabetic coma.
• An increase in general weakness and increased fatigue due to metabolic disorders, energy starvation of body cells and the accumulation of toxic metabolic products.
• Visual impairment in the form of blurred and blurred objects, redness of the conjunctiva and pain in the eyes.
• Itching of the skin, the formation of small erosions on the skin and mucous membranes that do not heal for a long time.
• Excessive hair loss.

The first type of diabetes mellitus is different in that it manifests sharply, suddenly, and often only acute symptoms in the form of severe ketoacidosis up to coma make one suspect this diagnosis.

Initial symptoms of type II diabetes

Type 2 diabetes develops in older people who are overweight or obese. Their pathology development mechanism is that fat cells become filled with fat and increase in size. As a result, the quantity and quality of insulin receptors changes, leading to insensitivity or resistance to the hormone. Under such conditions, glucose is not absorbed.

In the early stages of type 2 diabetes, there is a compensatory increase in insulin synthesis by the pancreas, but as the disease progresses, this reserve is depleted and absolute insulin insufficiency develops.

The peculiarity of this disease is that a person may not notice its symptoms at the initial stage of diabetes mellitus for a long time. Most people attribute the deterioration in their health to age-related changes, overwork, and not to the onset of diabetes. Delayed treatment for the disease is also explained by the slower progression and erasure of symptoms than with type I.

Reference! Type II diabetes is often diagnosed accidentally when visiting for another pathology or during a routine examination.

The most common early symptoms of diabetes are:

• Polydipsia is manifested by an increased drinking regimen of up to 4–5 liters per day. Such intense thirst often occurs in mature patients. In old age, there is insensitivity to thirst.
• Polyuria, especially frequent urge to urinate, is observed at night.
• Increased body weight.
• Increased appetite, especially for sweet foods.
• Increasing weakness, drowsiness, fatigue.
• Itching of the skin, especially in the perineum and genital area.
• Paresthesia and numbness in the lower extremities and palms due to the development of diabetic neuropathy.
• Pain and fatigue in the legs when walking, sparse hair, coldness of the extremities due to vascular damage.
• Furunculosis, candidiasis of the skin and mucous membranes, infected long-term non-healing cracks, wounds, scratches. Other skin symptoms of the disease are: diabetic dermatopathy, pemphigus, xanthomas, necrobiosis lipoidica, neurodermatitis. All this is a consequence of impaired skin regeneration and reduced immune reactivity.
• Periodontal disease and recurrent stomatitis.
• Deterioration of vision as a result of the toxic effects of high concentrations of glucose in the blood (retinopathy, cataracts). As a rule, in type 2 diabetes, eye damage occurs much later than in type 1.
• Frequent relapses of urinary tract infections, in particular pyelonephritis, as a result of hyperglycemia and glycosuria.

Signs of the onset of diabetes in children

Quite often, type I diabetes is diagnosed when a young patient develops acute complications - diabetic ketoacidosis or ketoacidotic coma. Parents should pay attention if their child experiences frequent episodes of ketosis, or what is known as cyclic vomiting syndrome. This condition develops in many children who are constitutionally prone to acetone syndrome. It worsens with ARVI, infectious diseases and can lead to dehydration due to vomiting. But this syndrome goes away on its own as the child grows up.

If ketosis occurs before the age of one year or persists longer than 7–9 years, you should be examined by an endocrinologist. However, experts advise taking a blood test for glucose levels in case of any manifestation of acetonemia.

Type I diabetes often manifests itself in childhood or adolescence

The very first signs of pathology in children are:

• polyuria;
• polydipsia;
• sudden weight loss.

If these diabetes symptoms are not recognized, the child may develop ketoacidosis with the following characteristic symptoms:

• abdominal pain;
• vomiting, nausea;
• dry skin;
• rapid breathing;
• dizziness;
• the smell of acetone in exhaled air, urine, vomit;
• lethargy, drowsiness;
• loss of consciousness.

Important! If symptoms of ketoacidosis appear, you should immediately seek emergency medical help!

Onset of diabetes mellitus in men

In the genital area of ​​men with this disease, there are also changes due to impaired innervation (neuropathy) and blood supply to the reproductive organs. The following symptoms are typical:

• decreased libido;
• impaired unstable erection;
• infertility due to decreased motility and the number of viable forms of sperm.

Itching in the genitals is also often present due to the irritating effect of sweat secretion with a high concentration of glucose.

Diabetes disorders in women

Various signs of this disease are observed when a woman’s reproductive organs are affected:

• decreased sexual interest;
• irregular menstruation;
• dryness and itching of the genital mucosa, vaginal candidiasis;
• miscarriage;
• infertility.

Important! Gestational diabetes in the mother - the risk of developing diabetes in the child

Pregnant women sometimes develop a special type of diabetes – gestational diabetes. Therefore, when monitoring a pregnant woman, the doctor should promptly refer the woman to an oral glucose tolerance test and regularly monitor a general urine test to detect glycosuria.

What to do if you notice symptoms of diabetes?

It is best to contact an endocrinologist who will tell you what examinations need to be done to confirm the diagnosis. Laboratory examinations include:

• Fasting blood glucose test:
• oral glucose tolerance test to detect prediabetes;
• blood test for glycosylated hemoglobin;
• urine test for glucosuria;
• urine test for acetone.

Other laboratory and instrumental methods are used to identify complications of the disease.

Thus, it is necessary to take a responsible attitude towards your health in order to identify the first signs of diabetes in time.

Diabetes mellitus is a disease in which glucose from food cannot be absorbed by tissues and circulates in the blood, causing metabolic disorders. Due to lack of nutrition, tissues become sensitive to various damaging factors.

The inability to metabolize glucose is associated with a lack of insulin production in type 1 diabetes mellitus or a lack of tissue sensitivity to it in non-insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes.

Although these two types of diabetes have a common manifestation in the form of hyperglycemia (increased blood sugar) and glucosuria (excretion of sugar in the urine), the way diabetes begins and the signs of disease development are different for type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Signs of onset of type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes occurs when cells located in the islets of Langerhans are destroyed in the pancreas. The amount of insulin produced by these cells begins to decrease or stop completely.

The causes of type 1 diabetes may include the following factors:

1. Autoimmune reactions.
2. Viral infections.
3. Heredity.

Impaired immunity with the development of autoimmune cell destruction is most often characteristic of young or mature women. Such patients usually have other autoimmune diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune thyroiditis).

Diabetes can begin with a viral infection. With congenital rubella, mumps, hepatitis, cytomegalovirus infection, beta cells are destroyed and the reaction of formation of immune complexes is triggered. Cases of the disease have been reported after influenza.

This variety occurs at a young age in both men and women. Symptoms of diabetes mellitus with such damage to the pancreas progress rapidly.

Congenital diabetes mellitus and diabetes in young children occur due to a hereditary predisposition in the family. The onset of diabetes mellitus is usually sudden. It may be detected for the first time during the development of a coma. In diabetes mellitus, the peak incidence is observed between the ages of one month and twelve years.

The first symptoms of the disease are associated with a sharp rise in blood glucose levels. Signs of type 1 diabetes mellitus include:

• Intense and constant thirst.
• Dry mouth.
• Polyuria (profuse urination) sometimes up to ten liters per day and the development of dehydration. This is due to the fact that osmotic pressure increases in the kidneys with diabetes. At the same time, the body loses a lot of potassium and sodium.
• Intense night urination.
• Development of general weakness and fatigue.
• Attacks of hunger, increased desire to eat sweets.
• The onset of diabetes mellitus in infants is manifested by the fact that after the urine dries, the diapers become hard, like starched diapers. The child eats greedily and drinks a lot of water, the skin is dry and wrinkled. It is common for children at an early age to experience urinary incontinence at night.
• Sharp weight loss with abundant nutrition due to lack of glucose in tissues. Weight loss can reach 10 – 15 kilograms.
• The appearance of the smell of sour apples or acetone in the exhaled air.

These symptoms of diabetes are the most characteristic. When they occur, there is already significant damage to the pancreas. In addition, with the insulin-dependent course of the disease, secondary signs of diabetes mellitus develop, which reflect a dysfunction of the organs:

1. Itching of the skin and mucous membranes.
2. Chronically recurrent thrush, resistant to antifungal drugs.
3. Headache, migraine.
4. Insomnia.
5. Dizziness.
6. Furunculosis.
7. Iron taste in mouth.
8. Nausea, periodic vomiting.
9. Blurred vision, feeling of dots flickering before the eyes.
10. Frequent infectious and fungal diseases.
11. Tingling and numbness in the feet and hands.
12. Cramps and feeling of heaviness in the lower extremities.
13. Wounds and cuts do not heal for a long time and fester.
14. Infectious diseases have a protracted course, and resistance to antibiotics quickly develops.

The course of type 1 diabetes mellitus in adults can be slowly progressive. With this option, diabetes can be completely compensated for two or three years by a low-carbohydrate diet and taking pills that lower blood sugar.

Subsequently, such treatment becomes ineffective, and signs of an autoimmune process increase in the blood, causing patients to be transferred to insulin therapy.

Initial signs of type 2 diabetes

Sugar level

Non-insulin-dependent diabetes of the second type occurs against the background of a sufficient or even excess amount of insulin in the blood, but the receptors to it lose sensitivity. Glucose and insulin circulate in the blood, and the organs develop signs of malnutrition.

The most pronounced metabolic disorders in diabetes mellitus manifest themselves in muscles, liver and adipose tissue. Less glucose is processed in muscles. In liver cells, glycogen reserves decrease as it is converted into glucose, and fat is stored as reserves.

Disorders of fat and carbohydrate metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus stimulate cholesterol deposits in blood vessels and subcutaneous tissue, which is why it is very difficult for such patients to lose weight.

1. Excess weight.
2. Sedentary lifestyle.
3. Stress reactions.
4. Stein-Leventhal syndrome (polycystic ovary syndrome).
5. Acute or chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic necrosis, pancreatic tumors.
6. Elderly age.
7. Diabetes during pregnancy.
8. The birth of a large baby weighing from 4.5 kg.
9. Miscarriages during pregnancy, premature birth.
10. Arterial hypertension.
11. Atherosclerosis.
12. Chronic liver and kidney diseases.
13. Diabetes in the family.

The course of diabetes is characterized by a gradual increase in symptoms, often there are no obvious signs for a long time, and the disease is detected during routine examinations and measuring blood glucose levels.

The first signs of type 2 diabetes mellitus may be:

• Skin rashes, acne, furunculosis. covers all areas of the skin.
• Decreased visual acuity, the appearance of dots and spots before the eyes.
• Itching in the perineum and genital area, often recurrent thrush.
• Decreased libido, impotence.
• Menstrual irregularities, infertility.
• Weakness and dizziness after eating.
• Daytime sleepiness and feeling of constant fatigue. The patient may sleep enough, but not be able to get enough sleep.
• Increased hair loss, thinning and brittle nails.
• Decreased body temperature.
• Numbness and tingling in the body, a crawling sensation.
• Leg cramps, often worse at night.
• Itching and dryness of the skin, especially the palms, feet, and abdominal skin.
• Weight gain with fat deposition in the waist area.
• Sweating.

Specific signs of diabetes - thirst, excessive urination, hunger, nausea - can appear after a long time. Serious metabolic disorders develop in the body. At the same time, signs may appear:

1. A sharp drop in vision due to damage to the retina.
2. Headache.
3. Pain in the heart, angina pectoris.
4. Persistent increase in blood pressure.
5. Trophic ulcers of the lower extremities, long-term non-healing wounds due to vascular damage.
6. Swelling on the face and legs.
7. Pain in the legs, loss of sensation in the feet due to damage to the nerve fibers.
8. Pain and feeling of heaviness in the lower back, development of renal failure.
9. Loss of consciousness as a harbinger of coma with sudden and significant fluctuations in blood sugar.

Signs of the onset of coma in diabetes mellitus, requiring immediate medical attention.

The patient may experience fainting, trembling in the body, cold sweat, deep and rapid breathing, vomiting, and a smell of acetone from the breath.

Diagnosis of diabetes

None of these symptoms are a sign of diabetes alone.

Therefore, if even several such disorders are detected, a diagnosis cannot be made.

The disease can be confirmed or refuted only with the following studies:

• Fasting blood glucose test.
• Glucose tolerance test. The level of glucose in the blood is determined on an empty stomach and 2 hours after taking glucose.
• Blood test for glycated hemoglobin. This indicator makes it possible to find out the average glucose level over the past 3 months.
• Urine test for sugar.
• Biochemical blood test with determination of C-reactive protein, liver and kidney complexes, indicators of fat metabolism.

Diabetes mellitus, especially type 2, may not manifest itself clinically, while the state of health of patients remains relatively satisfactory. Elevated sugar levels are detected only during laboratory testing.

Therefore, all patients from risk groups are advised to study indicators of carbohydrate and fat metabolism, as well as consultations with an ophthalmologist, cardiologist, neurologist and nephrologist.

In addition to diabetes mellitus, increased blood sugar can occur with other diseases of the endocrine system, pathology of the liver, and pancreas. Therefore, if there is doubt about the diagnosis, additional types of examination may be prescribed. The video in this article will show the first signs of diabetes.

Diabetes– a hereditary or acquired disease of the endocrine system of a chronic nature, caused by disturbances in water and carbohydrate metabolism in the body. It occurs as a result of a relative or absolute deficiency of the vital hormone insulin, which is produced by the beta cells of the pancreas.

Insulin regulates blood sugar levels. Taking a direct part in the vital processes of processing sugar and converting it into glucose, which is a source of energy in the human body. Disorders of the functioning of the pancreas lead to disruption of insulin production, which causes the accumulation of excess sugar in the blood. In parallel with this, water metabolism is disrupted, as the kidneys excrete a large amount of defective water. Depending on the pathological mechanism of diabetes development and the directions of treatment therapy, two main types of the disease are distinguished:

• type 1 diabetes mellitus or the insulin-dependent form, characterized by the production of antibodies that engulf pancreatic cells that produce insulin;
• diabetes mellitus type 2 or an insulin-independent form, characterized by a loss of cell sensitivity to insulin due to excess nutrients in them.

Factors that provoke the development of diabetes

• Genetic factor or hereditary predisposition.
• Excess weight.
• Serious diseases of the internal organs that damage the beta cells of the pancreas that produce insulin. These include: pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis, disorders of the endocrine glands, etc.
• Acute viral diseases - influenza, chicken pox, rubella, epidemic hepatitis, which are the starting point for metabolic disorders.
• Bad eating habits, manifested in the fact that a person constantly snacks and his diet includes a large amount of sweet carbohydrate foods. At the same time, the pancreas is constantly working, which disrupts its vital functions.
• High levels of “bad” cholesterol, which is not excreted from the body and tends to accumulate on the walls of blood vessels, which causes atherosclerosis. This disrupts the natural supply of insulin to tissues and cells.
• A history of or the birth of a child weighing over 4.5 kilograms.
• Age-related changes in the body.
• Hypodynamic lifestyle.
• Constant neuro-emotional overstrain and chronic stress, which provoke a sharp increase in the amount of sugar in the blood.
• Disorders of the cardiovascular system.
• Incorrect medical therapy for hypertension.

How to recognize diabetes mellitus: initial manifestations

The insidiousness of the disease is that the initial prediabetic state can develop over several years. There are certain specific symptoms that indicate a disorder of the pancreas and impending insulin resistance in the body.

Having discovered these symptoms, it is necessary to take a blood test on an empty stomach to diagnose your blood sugar level, the norm of which is 3.3-5.7 mmol/l. The first signs of diabetes mellitus are the so-called precursors, signaling initial disorders of carbohydrate metabolism.

These include the following symptoms:

• Constant diabetic thirst or ketoacidosis, which is caused by dry mouth that does not go away even after consuming a large amount of liquid.
• Sudden weight loss, which occurs with normal appetite and lack of increased physical activity. The reason for sudden weight loss is a lack of insulin, which disrupts the natural process of digestion of foods.
• Severe fatigue, gradually taking on a chronic form. A person with the first signs of diabetes has difficulty performing daily activities - difficulty getting out of bed, brushing his teeth, getting dressed. Apathy and fatigue develop against the background of a lack of insulin: nutrients are supplied with food, but the body cannot properly process them and release the energy necessary to support vital processes. Due to the lack of digestion of food, the suppression of all functions of vital internal organs gradually increases.
• Increased sweating.
• Persistent feeling of hunger, which does not dull after eating, arising from the fact that signals about a lack of energy are received in the brain. So-called carbohydrate hunger occurs when the body requires the consumption of large amounts of sweet foods - chocolate, sweets, baked goods, confectionery.
• Skin problems, manifested in the fact that even the most minor violations of the integrity of the skin (microtraumas, scratches, wounds, cracks) do not heal for a long time, since metabolic disorders disrupt the processes of skin regeneration. Infection often occurs and pus appears, severe inflammation, and ulcers form.
• Increased skin sensitivity, manifested by skin itching, hyperpigmentation and roughening of the skin.
• Deterioration of visual acuity, accompanied by a burning sensation and the presence of foreign particles in the eyes.
• Fungal infections, since mushrooms are microorganisms that multiply quickly in an environment rich in sugar.
• Noticeable increase in daily urine output– the amount of portioned and total urine excreted per day.

Diabetes mellitus in men: initial manifestations of metabolic disorders

Men are more prone to metabolic disorders and diabetes than women. This is due to the fact that men have higher body weight and are much more likely than women to abuse alcoholic beverages and smoke, which has a negative impact on the functions of the pancreas.

The initial stage of diabetes mellitus does not manifest itself with specific symptoms, so most representatives of the stronger sex consider the malaise to be the result of overwork and increased physical activity. The first signs of diabetes in men are subtle clinical symptoms that definitely need to be paid attention to.

• sudden fluctuations in body weight;
• constant thirst;
• increased sweating that occurs at any ambient temperature;
• a feeling of hunger that does not disappear after a heavy snack;
• sleep disturbance, expressed in difficulty falling asleep;
• frequent urination, often occurring at night;
• decreased libido, leading to sexual dysfunction;
• increased fatigue and muscle weakness without significant physical activity.

The appearance of initial symptoms should alert you, because even a slight increase in blood sugar levels signals irreversible changes in physiological mechanisms in the body, which can subsequently provoke the development of serious pathologies. Diabetes mellitus in men in its advanced form causes disorders of the reproductive system and can even cause impotence and infertility.

Primary manifestations of diabetes mellitus in women

Modern women experience enormous daily stress, which has a negative impact not only on their physical but also on their emotional state. Exhaustive work, chronic stress, hypovitaminosis, lack of natural products, constant lack of sleep, increased anxiety for children - all this provokes metabolic disorders in the female body, leading to the development of diabetes. The first signs of diabetes in women are not immediately detected, as they are often mistaken for symptoms of hormonal changes, premenstrual syndrome, or explained by the onset of menopause.

The first signs of diabetes in women include:

• decreased performance, lack of energy and weakness;
• headache for no apparent reason;
• feeling of fatigue that occurs immediately after a heavy meal;
• increased drowsiness;
• feeling of thirst;
• excess weight or sudden weight loss due to excessively increased appetite;
• increased blood pressure;
• severe skin itching, especially in the groin area;
• disturbances in the emotional-volitional sphere, manifested by increased nervousness and irritability;
• pustular lesions of the skin;
• increased fragility of hair and nails, hair loss.

Primary manifestations of diabetes mellitus in childhood

The main function of the pancreas, which is to produce insulin, finally matures by the age of five. Therefore, from this age until the onset of puberty, the risk of diabetes increases.

Diabetes mellitus is extremely rare in children of the first year of life. Risk factors for the development of childhood diabetes mellitus include: reduced immunity, acute viral infections, excess weight, autoimmune diseases, as well as the presence of metabolic disorders in one of the parents. Also at risk are prematurely born and weakened children, teenagers and teenage children actively involved in professional sports. The first signs of diabetes are the same as the initial manifestations of diabetes in adults.

Initial clinical symptoms include:

• weight loss due to excessive appetite;
• sudden weight gain;
• general deterioration of health;
• sleep disorders;
• frequent night urination;
• intense sweating;
• difficulty concentrating;
• decreased immunity, manifested by frequent viral infections and colds;
• muscle flaccidity.

Parents should be especially attentive to the child's health. Having noticed the initial manifestations, you should urgently seek medical help and conduct a comprehensive examination of the child’s body, including a blood test for sugar levels.

Symptoms of Diabetes in Women: This page tells you everything you need to know about them. Study the signs of the initial and advanced stages of impaired glucose metabolism. Read in detail about the acute symptoms, as well as the signs of hidden diabetes. Find out what tests you need to take to confirm or refute the diagnosis. The features of diabetes in women aged about 30, 40 and 50 years are considered. Find out how to get rid of thrush without the help of toxic antifungal medications.

Keep in mind that high blood sugar is more dangerous for women than for men. For example, for men the risk of heart attack increases by 2-3 times, and for women - by 6 times. Similar statistics are observed for other complications. Women with diabetes sometimes receive less quality treatment than men. Reasons for this:

• Women have more vague symptoms of complications than men, especially heart attacks;
• Occasionally, male chauvinism appears among doctors who consider women hypochondriacs.

And the site site teaches diabetics how keep blood sugar 3.9-5.5 mmol/l 24 hours a day. This is the level of healthy people, which is guaranteed to protect against complications of the kidneys, legs and eyesight, as well as from cardiovascular diseases. To achieve excellent diabetes control, you don’t have to go on a starvation diet, take expensive and harmful pills, or inject massive doses of insulin. Read more or. The recommendations are suitable for women and men overloaded with work and family problems, and even more so for retirees.

Diet options depending on diagnosis:

What are the first signs of diabetes in women? How does impaired glucose metabolism manifest itself?

Type 2 diabetes most often remains hidden for several years. It causes mild symptoms, gradually worsening well-being and quality of life. As a rule, women resign themselves to this, instead of raising the alarm, getting a diagnosis and treatment. Early signs of type 2 diabetes are fatigue, vision problems, and decreased concentration. As you can see, they can easily be mistaken for natural age-related changes. Wounds, cuts, bruises and other skin injuries do not heal well.

• severe thirst, frequent urge to urinate;
• rapid, unexplained weight loss, possibly due to increased appetite;
• nausea, vomiting;
• irritability, hysterics;
• smell of acetone from the mouth;
• tingling or numbness in the arms, and especially in the legs;
• There may be blurred vision, double vision.

What are the symptoms of early stage diabetes? How to recognize this disease?

In the early stages of diabetes, the patient may not have any significant symptoms for several years. In order to recognize this disease in time, it is advisable to undergo a preventive medical examination every year. Or at least take diagnostic blood tests.

The appearance of the acute symptoms listed above indicates that the patient’s blood sugar is off the charts. Perhaps he is already close to a diabetic coma. Unfortunately, most often the disease begins with a call to the ambulance due to impaired consciousness. Doctors fail to save 3-5% of such patients from death. To avoid ending up in intensive care and other unnecessary problems, do not be lazy to check your glucose level at the slightest suspicion of diabetes.

It is worth discussing in more detail the co-infections that latent or poorly controlled diabetes causes in women. The most common complaint is thrush. It manifests itself as vaginal itching, cheesy discharge, and problems in intimate life. You can get rid of it without resorting to toxic antifungal medications if you switch to. The fungus candida albicans, which causes thrush, can rarely cause oral problems.

High blood sugar creates favorable conditions for the proliferation of yeast, as well as many other harmful bacteria. There may be urinary tract infections, in particular cystitis - inflammation of the bladder. Women are highly susceptible to them due to their anatomical features. These diseases are unpleasant in themselves. The worst thing is that bacteria can reach the kidneys and begin to destroy them. Pyelonephritis is an inflammatory disease of the kidneys, the causative agents of which can be various pathogenic bacteria. It is difficult to treat.

Read about products for diabetics:

What signs of diabetes can be seen on the skin?

The skin may be dry, itchy and flaky. Type 2 diabetes sometimes causes darkening of skin folds called acanthosis nigricans. However, impaired glucose metabolism does not always cause skin problems. You cannot rely on the external symptoms of this disease. Usually, skin problems are not visible, even when the patient’s blood sugar is off the charts. Diabetes accelerates the aging of the body, and this is reflected in the condition of the skin. This worries women, but change for the worse is slow. Usually patients get used to them and do not raise the alarm.

What are the signs of diabetes in women around 30 years of age?

If impaired glucose metabolism appears in a woman around the age of 30, then this is most likely type 1 diabetes - a severe autoimmune disease. High blood sugar caused by an unhealthy lifestyle usually does not develop at such an early age. Type 1 diabetes develops rapidly. It almost immediately causes the acute symptoms listed above on this page. At the age of about 30, there is no need to worry about hidden diabetes.

Check your glucose levels in a laboratory or at least with a home glucometer. If the diagnosis is confirmed, then study and follow its recommendations. Console yourself with the fact that it is impossible to protect yourself from this disease; its occurrence is not your fault. However, you have a responsibility to avoid disability and protect against complications.

Read about the prevention and treatment of complications:

What are the features of impaired glucose metabolism in women aged about 40 years?

Women aged around 40 may have both types of diabetes. Blood sugar can increase due to unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle. Autoimmune attacks may also begin on the beta cells of the pancreas that produce insulin. Their victims are often people of slim and thin build. There is no point in taking expensive blood tests for antibodies to establish an accurate diagnosis. Because it does not affect treatment methods.

Autoimmune diabetes in women and men aged 40 years and older is called LADA. It is more common than previously thought. Doctors realized this after 2010. Now they are slowly changing the standard treatment recommendations. Beginning after the age of 40 years, the disease is mild, provided the patient follows the instructions. However, low-dose insulin injections may be needed even if you eat a healthy diet.

Type 2 diabetes in women most often develops after 45 years of age. However, it can begin earlier, especially if sugar has previously increased during pregnancy. This disease can be easily controlled by adopting a healthy lifestyle. If only the patient had enough motivation to comply with the regimen. Unfortunately, with type 2 diabetes, autoimmune attacks on the beta cells of the pancreas are also observed. The predisposition to these attacks determines whether obesity progresses to diabetes. Insulin injections may be needed to compensate for autoimmune attacks. Don't be lazy and don't be afraid to be treated with insulin if the need arises. Especially during colds and other infectious diseases.

Treatment of diabetes with insulin - where to start:

What are the symptoms of diabetes in women after 50 years of age?

Autoimmune LADA diabetes in slender and thin people extremely rarely begins over the age of 50. However, this disease can begin several years earlier, and then remain latent for a long time, with a delayed diagnosis. Therefore, it should be kept in mind as one of the possible causes of high blood sugar. However, type 2 diabetes is much more often the real cause.

Menopause in women worsens metabolism, provokes the development of obesity, and increases the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, the disease can remain hidden for many years. Possible mild and acute symptoms are listed above. If you have landed on this page, you are obviously a motivated patient. Therefore, you will not do anything stupid by ignoring the signs of impaired glucose metabolism. Take a blood sugar test. Best to check. Then, if necessary, use . Or follow, which is also suitable for LADA.