Good quality of life despite diabetes

The compact guide explains which types of diabetes there are and how to get the disease under control

Diabetics can actively improve their quality of life by undergoing regular preventive examinations, avoiding acute complications and long-term effects of diabetes mellitus through appropriate measures and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Known since ancient times
The metabolic disease diabetes mellitus was probably already known in ancient Egypt, but is more relevant today than ever and affects large parts of the population. This sugar metabolism disorder has become a widespread disease, particularly in western industrialized countries. There are currently over six million diabetes patients in Germany alone - and the number is growing every day. Around 95 percent of these have type 2 diabetes.
In his new compact guide "Diabetes", health expert Dr. Eberhard J. Wormer explains the various symptoms and causes, test procedures and therapies and presents effective self-help measures. Because beyond all the achievements in terms of drug therapy, there is good news for every type 2 diabetic: losing excess weight and adopting a healthy lifestyle are so effective in many cases that antidiabetics can often be dispensed with and many health risks can be mitigated. "Watch your body weight, keep moving, eat healthy and delicious food and avoid unnecessary stress," advises the doctor and medical author.

Diabetes types
Diabetes mellitus is a disorder of sugar metabolism with permanently elevated blood sugar (hyperglycemia). People with type 1 diabetes suffer from an autoimmune disease caused by a disorder of the immune system. This leads to the destruction of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This results in an insulin deficiency. As a result, too little glucose reaches the cells and the blood sugar concentration increases. In addition to genetic factors, viral infections and environmental factors probably play a role in the development of type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is currently incurable. In order to counteract acute metabolic disorders and secondary diseases, type 1 diabetics are treated with an insulin dosage tailored to their individual needs.
In type 2 diabetes, the body's cells are resistant to insulin, which is often associated with high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. The pancreas produces sufficient insulin, but the cells become increasingly insensitive to the hormone until they no longer respond to it at all. As glucose does not reach the cells sufficiently, the sugar concentration in the blood increases. The disease does not develop solely as a result of a hereditary predisposition, but is probably caused by a risky combination of lack of exercise, age, obesity and an unhealthy diet.

Detecting and treating diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed relatively quickly, as clear symptoms such as increased urination, intense thirst and hunger, dry skin and itching, tiredness and weight loss appear within a short period of time. In type 2 diabetes, however, the symptoms develop slowly and often unnoticed over a longer period of time. For this reason, regular preventive examinations are important. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can prevent serious subsequent complications.
Type 1 diabetes is treated with insulin immediately after diagnosis. In type 2 diabetics, attempts should be made to get the metabolism under control through exercise, diet and weight loss before using oral antidiabetics. Even if the disease already exists, lifestyle should be rethought and action taken. This is because a healthy lifestyle can have a positive effect on sugar metabolism and also improve well-being. In addition, if necessary and appropriate, medication can optimize insulin action or stimulate insulin secretion. However, some patients still need to use insulin. In addition, treatment of concomitant symptoms such as obesity, lipid metabolism disorders and high blood pressure is often necessary. Treatment options range from weight loss and normalization of nutrient deficiencies to modern insulin pens.

Book tip:
Dr. med. Eberhard J. Wormer: Diabetes. Compact guide (symptoms and causes, testing procedures and therapies, effective self-help measures). Mankau Verlag, 1st edition April 2017, paperback, 11.5 x 16.5cm, color, 127 pages, 8.99 euros (D) / 9.20 euros (A) ISBN 978-3-86374-383-3.

Link recommendations:
More information about the "Diabetes" guide
To the reading sample in PDF format
More about Dr. Eberhard J. Wormer
To the Internet forum with Dr. med. Eberhard J. Wormer