There are around a half million people living with diabetes throughout Austria. However, provided that it is recognised early on, those affected by diabetes can often live a very normal life.
bewegung diabetes ernährung gesundheit
While the number of youths affected by diabetes (0.3 % all have type 1 diabetes) remains constant, it is increasing among the older generation. The cases of disease accumulate with increasing age and obesity. Diabetes arises on average at the age of 50, but could be determined easily and without problems through a blood sugar measurement. However, normally the diagnosis occurs ten years too late, because the affected individual acts carelessly in regards to prevention. An early recognition would also prevent subsequent diseases like arteriosclerosis and due to a stroke, kidney failure or leg problems, just as an early mortality of the patients.
Movement protects
Medical specialists believe the reason for the increase of the disease is in the “collective refusal of movement” and in unhealthy, too abundant food. The progression of diabetes type II is characteristic. You do not feel anything, you do not notice anything, there are no problems. If “light diabetes” is found, this is often still not a reason to worry for many doctors and patients. However, there is no light form. Any form of diabetes includes a massive risk for an early death. Thus, the logical conclusion: You should do something before you suffer from diabetes.
The fact that people first go to the doctor when something hurts is nothing new either. Particularly with the three main risk factors, smoking, unhealthy eating and alcohol, you do not feel when it is too much. On the contrary: these factors may even make life more pleasant, more tolerable. However, they belong to 60 percent of the death risks that would be influential and therefore avoidable. Thus, it would make sense to keep an eye on the blood sugar level starting at 30 during a health check-up. Particularly when there are other risk factors like obesity, family history, obesity in children, high blood pressure and similar things. It is also convenient for affected individuals to complete diabetes training. During a stationary stay, the patients learn everything about the disease: how to handle insulin shots, the right therapy and foot care and which psychological effects may arise. Through active and intensive care of affected individuals, it is possible to avoid significant complications from diabetes. Affected individuals who are trained correspondingly may then not have to undergo lengthy dialysis.
Diabetes – what is that?
The characteristics for diabetes (diabetes mellitus) include long-lasting, elevated blood sugar values. The reason for this is a disruption in the blood sugar control circuit. The body cells need energy; they get this from sugar (glucose). In order for energy to go where it is needed, the pancreas produces the hormone insulin. Glucose can reach the cells through this. However, insufficient amounts of insulin are produced, the blood sugar level will increase and the glucose will be excreted through the kidneys. Sugar in urine is therefore often a sign of diabetes. The disease may have different causes. There are different types of diabetes based on these causes. About 5 percent of those affected have type 1 diabetes, however, nearly 90 percent of the patients have type II diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes
This type of diabetes is found particularly in younger people. The increased blood sugar is noticed through excruciating symptoms, like through excessive thirst, frequent urination, reduced performance, immune deficiency or nausea and vomiting due to the production of ketone bodies. Insulin must be injected for this type of diabetes, because the pancreas now only produces little to no insulin.
Typ 2 Diabetes
This type of diabetes is found particularly in younger people. The increased blood sugar is noticed through excruciating symptoms, like through excessive thirst, frequent urination, reduced performance, immune deficiency or nausea and vomiting due to the production of ketone bodies. Insulin must be injected for this type of diabetes, because the pancreas now only produces little to no insulin.
Secondary complications
You do not feel diabetes, it usually does not cause any problems. The dangerous thing about the disease, however, are the secondary damage and complications. They affect different organs. The most frequently affected organs include the kidneys, eyes, nerves and feet (diabetic foot).
Kidneys (diabetic nephropathy):
The functionality of the kidneys deteriorate successively due to diabetes; this may lead to the patient requiring regular dialysis.
Eyes (retinopathy):
In the advanced stage of the disease, vessels grow in the vitreous body of the eye. This may cause bleeding, which disrupts the incidence of light on the retina. Additionally, deposits in the vessels and on the retina disrupt visual functions.
Nerves (neuropathy):
Long increased blood sugar disrupts the energy supply of the nerve tracts; glucose deposits damage the nerve cells (neurons) as well. The consequences: impulse conduction disruptions, loss of sensitivity, decreased pain sensitivity, burning, piercing pain or tingling (like ants walking). Impotence is a typical cause due to vessel and nerve damage.
Diabetic foot:
The feet get less sensitive to pain, this leads the injuries or pressure points on the feet not being felt and treated correspondingly. In addition to this is the fact that people with diabetes often have impairments in wound healing and chronic infections. This combination may lead to a so-called diabetic foot.
High blood pressure (hypertension):
With high blood pressure, the vessel walls must constantly handle a high blood pressure; there are also deposits in the vessels (arteriosclerosis). They lose their elasticity and become brittle, the result is an infarct or thrombosis. The coronary vessels (heart attack), vessels in the brain (stroke) or leg arteries (thrombosis) are particularly in danger.
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