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Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a chronic metabolic disease in which the body has problems regulating blood glucose levels. A healthy person's blood glucose level is controlled by the hormone insulin, which is produced by the pancreas. In diabetes, insulin production is either impaired, which is the result of type 1 diabetes, or the body cells do not respond adequately to insulin. This means that the insulin cannot take effect; this is type 2 diabetes.
We need energy for the body to function. It is absorbed from food, broken down into its constituent parts, transported to all the cells of the body and converted into energy. Glucose is especially important here. It is the smallest sugar component that enters the body's cells via the blood.
Once glucose reaches the body cells, it requires insulin, which is produced
in the pancreas. Insulin has a key function: it opens the body's cells to take up glucose, which can then be used in the cells. This process can be thought of as a "key-lock"
principle. In the "key-lock" principle, insulin (the key) opens the cells (the lock) so that the glucose can enter the cells from the blood.
In people with diabetes, this cycle does not function properly, as either too little insulin is produced or none at all, and certain cells can also be insulin resistant. As a result of this is, the glucose continues to circulate in the bloodstream and the blood glucose content rises above normal levels. Diabetes is recognised by a fasting glucose level above 110 mg/dL (or 6.1 mmol/L).
There are various forms of diabetes. The two most frequent forms are type 1 diabetes, which is mainly diagnosed at a younger age (<40 years old) and type 2 diabetes, which was previously known as adult-onset diabetes; today around 90-95% of all diabetic patients have developed this form.
In type 1 diabetes, the body no longer produces its own insulin. The body's own immune system destroys the beta cells in the pancreas, the organ in charge of insulin production.
Over time, this destruction results in insulin deficiency. Type 1 diabetes only fully develops once approximately 80-90% of the beta cells have been destroyed. This reaction often sets in during childhood or adolescence. Insulin therapy is essential to life in this case. Experts
believe that factors relating to both genes and viruses play a role here.
The "key-lock" principle is violated. No insulin (the key) is produced. The body cells (the lock) are not opened to absorb glucose.
Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes. The number of people with type 2 diabetes is rising by around 5% every year in Germany, and it is increasingly diagnosed in childhood and adolescence (Hauner, 2007).
As well as insulin resistance, insulin release is often also impaired in type 2 diabetes.
Body cells become increasingly insensitive to insulin over time, which means that less and less glucose can be absorbed from the blood. The beta cells in the pancreas try to compensate for the cell's reduced uptake by increasing insulin production, but it does not prevent an increase in the blood sugar level. This increased production by the beta cells leads to their exhaustion in the long term.
Environmental and, above all, behavioural factors are critical for developing type 2 diabetes. The most significant factor is being overweight. The risk of being affected by diabetes increases with body weight. Other important factors are poor diet and not exercising enough as well as genetic predisposition.
The "key-lock" principle is violated. The "key" insulin is produced, but no longer fits into the "lock," as the cells no longer react correctly to the insulin.
Symptoms Type 1 diabetes
The initial symptoms usually appear suddenly:
Reduced performance and significant weight loss are often factors as well. There are also symptoms such as fatigue and disorders of vision and concentration.
Symptoms Type 2 diabetes
In the early stage of type 2 diabetes, most patients do not have any symptoms, or those that they do have are non-specific. The diagnosis is often made through incidental findings in a routine examination.
Symptoms include:
Increased thirst and urge to urinate only appear in rare cases. Rapid weight loss does not occur; instead, hunger tends to increase and with it the associated weight gain. Since environmental and behavioural factors also play an important role in developing type 2 diabetes, the treatment of type 2 diabetes can be significantly supported through targeted measures in the patient's daily life.
Initially you can try to lower your blood sugar level by making significant lifestyle changes.
The focus of type 2 diabetes treatment is:
A change in diet and more exercise means that the body's cells can increase their capacity for insulin again, meaning that the blood sugar level can be lowered. If this does not succeed in reducing blood glucose, additional medical treatment (tablets or even insulin) is required.
Beurer Healthguide
This advice page was made by Beurer GmbH and is intended to help you feel healthy and happy all round.
The content of the Healthguide is intended to provide assistance and information and can in no way replace the advice of a doctor.
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