Diabetes is the most common disease in Romania, with official data showing that one in ten Romanians suffers from this condition. Doctor Bianca Făsui, diabetes specialist, nutrition and metabolic diseases at the Diabetes Clinic in the Integrated Outpatient Department of the Târgu Jiu County Emergency Hospital.
One in ten Romanians suffers from diabetes Photo Gorj Hospital
Diabetes is a chronic condition, characterized by an increase in the concentration of sugar in the blood. Two mechanisms are involved: the destruction of cells in the pancreas that secrete insulin, or the way of using glucose at the peripheral level, in the muscles, causing hyperglycemia, explains doctor Bianca Făsui.
“In the absence of adequate control, patients develop important complications after a long period of glycemic imbalance, with damage to the heart and blood vessels, vision (up to blindness), kidneys (up to the need for dialysis), the nervous system, with impaired sensitivity of the hands and feet, with the risk of amputation. It is necessary to detect the first signs as early as possible so that we can contact the diabetologist and benefit from an appropriate treatment to prevent the development of complications associated with diabetes”, the doctor stated about the importance of early detection of this condition.
The basis of the treatment of this disease is the adoption of a healthy lifestyle, which is based on a balanced diet and regular physical exercise.
Symptoms that should direct our steps to the doctor
According to the specialist, the three classic signs of diabetes are: polyuria, polydipsia and weight loss.
“You feel the need to urinate often, especially at night and in copious amounts. The elimination of an increased amount of urine, over 2 liters in 24 hours, caused by the presence of glucose in the urine, defines polyuria. In people who do not have diabetes, the kidneys filter the blood to make urine and reabsorb all the sugar back into the blood. In diabetes, when blood sugar exceeds 180 mg/dl, the sugar can no longer be fully reabsorbed and some of this excess ends up in the urine and draws more water with it“, mentions the specialist doctor.
Bianca Făsui recommends that the sick go to the doctor as soon as possible: Photo Spital Gorj
Another specific symptom is the feeling of thirst and dry mouth. “The feeling of intense thirst associated with drinking an increased amount of liquids is called polydipsia. This follows polyuria and is consequential to dehydration caused by the loss of water through urine”added Dr. Bianca Făsui.
Another problem faced by diabetics is unexplained weight loss.
“Weight loss occurs as a result of insulin deficiency, which prevents the use of glucose to produce energy, so protein and fat will be predominantly used, and the person with diabetes involuntarily loses weight by more than 5% of the initial weight in a short period of time. Because there can be many other causes of unexplained weight loss other than diabetes, further investigation and referral to your family doctor is needed.”said the diabetologist.
Other symptoms are associated with diabetes
Doctor Bianca Făsui presented the rest of the signs and symptoms associated with diabetes: Physical and mental fatigue, asthenia; visual disturbances, which will go away after the glycemic balance is restored, so before you see an ophthalmologist, you should go to a diabetologist for treatment to balance diabetes; polyphagia: hunger that persists despite food intake; slow wound healing; urinary, skin, genital infections; symptoms of diabetes complications: visual disturbances, numbness in the soles of the feet.
