Type-2 diabetes is preventable – and curableDiabetes has long since become a widespread disease. An unbalanced diet and too little exercise mainly lead to what used to be colloquially called "old-age diabetes. The good news: This type 2 diabetes is curable. With type 1, it's all about the right treatment.
Diabetes, a widespread disease
More than 7 million people in Germany suffer from diabetes, most of them with type 2 diabetes, what used to be called "adult-onset diabetes". The number of unreported cases is probably even higher, since the chronic disease has not yet been discovered in many patients. With a consistent change in diet, plenty of exercise and, only in rare cases, medication, the disease can be completely cured, as internal medicine specialist and diabetologist Dr. Matthias Riedl as well as the gastroenterologist Dr. Ulrich-Frank Pape explain.
Just over 10 to 20 years ago, a Age-related diabetes seemed to be an irrevocable side effect of older years of life. People had lived well, had enough to eat, the fitness craze had not yet broken out, the awareness of a healthy lifestyle was not yet so pronounced. In the meantime, however, experts and laypeople alike know: Type 2 diabetes is not an inevitable disease, in most cases it is caused by obesity, wrong, v.a. over-caloric nutrition and too little exercise justified. But from this comes the good news: Type 2 diabetes is basically curable, and usually quite without medication, like dr. Matthias Riedl, Medical Director of the Diabetes Center Medicum in Hamburg, and Dr. Chief Physician of Internal Medicine. Gastroenterology at the Asklepios Klinik St. Georg, are convinced and experience again and again in their daily work.
First of all, however, a distinction must be made between the two types of diabetes: At Type-1 it is a question of Autoimmune disease, that is, the immune system destroying insulin-producing cells in the Pancreas. This leads to Insulin deficiency. But the body needs the hormone insulin to transport sugar from the blood into the cells, because they need sugar as an energy source.
Type 1 patients need insulin
The causes of this immune disorder have not yet been fully investigated. Above all Type-1 not curable. "That's why type 1 diabetes patients need to add insulin to the body," explains internist and diabetologist Dr. Riedl, who is also known as the NDR nutrition doc. Many patients inject themselves with insulin using a pen, having previously used the Blood glucose level have measured correct dosage to be determined. Others use a Insulin pump, this, often stuck under the skin on the abdomen, regularly releases insulin to the body. In this way, the pump mimics the function of the pancreas: It releases exactly the right amount of insulin at exactly the right time. This prevents hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.
Type 2 diabetes is an acquired disease
The situation is different Type 2 diabetes, often also called "diabetes" or "old-age diabetes. It is based on an insulin resistance or like Dr. Riedl it calls "one Overloading the body with too many carbohydrates coupled with too little exercise" leading to this Insulin Resistance leads. "The sugar molecules can no longer reach the cells, for example in the liver, in fatty tie or even in the muscles, because these are already supersaturated, the So sugar stays in the blood, the blood glucose level rises," adds the gastroenterologist and internist Dr. Pape. At first, the body tries to produce even more insulin to overcome the resistance, but then this production decreases. The permanent damages elevated blood glucose levels then long term Blood vessels, the nerves and numerous organs. The risk of Cardiovascular disease such as a heart attack rises sharply. diabetics according to current figures of the German Diabetes Society (DDG). The German diabetes help around the double to triple. Permanent and serious kidney damage and eye damage are other possible sequelae.
Diabetes myths
Right or wrong?
Diabetes is not a bad disease.
Wrong, untreated both diabetes type-1 and type-2 can be fatal. In type 1, hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia can lead to life-threatening coma. In type 2 diabetes, it is mainly the secondary diseases such as myocardial infarction that are important. Strokes that are extremely dangerous.
If you eat a lot of sweets, you get diabetes.
Is so generally not true. Although sweets and cakes contain a lot of sugar and this the emptiest carbohydrates, however, it is also a question of dosage. If you eat a predominantly healthy diet and get plenty of exercise, you can also snack a bit. In addition, the individual metabolism plays a role.
If you are constantly thirsty, you have diabetes.
Not true. However, a frequent feeling of thirst can be a sign of diabetes, but it doesn't have to be. In case of doubt consult your family doctor. Have yourself examined.
Fat people get diabetes, thin people don't.
Absolutely not true. However, obesity is a huge risk factor, so type 2 is often associated with obesity. In type 1, however, weight has no significance.
As a diabetic, you can only eat special diabetic foods.
Wrong. On the one hand, there are hardly any special diabetic products, and on the other hand, diabetics can eat anything as long as they adjust their insulin accordingly, or. Provide compensation. Keep moderation when eating. Nutritional counseling offers a good opportunity to learn an individually balanced diet,
Diabetics must not eat anything sweet.
Wrong. As long as a diabetic is well adjusted and eats a healthy diet, he or she can eat anything. Moderation is of course the order of the day here. As a general rule, however, the daily amount of sugar should not exceed 25 grams, even for healthy people. A glass of lemonade is often enough to cause this.
Only old people get diabetes.
Incorrect. Due to poor nutrition, more and more children and adolescents are developing type 2 diabetes, especially in recent years. Empty carbohydrates and lack of exercise lead to insulin resistance at an increasingly younger age.
Diabetics should do little sports.
False, at least as a general statement. Sports or even moderate but regular exercise help to avoid or reduce obesity. Caution is advised if the diabetes has already damaged the retina or other secondary diseases are present. If you are on insulin therapy, you should coordinate it with your exercise program. The doctor treating the patient can help here and assess which sport and how much is beneficial to health.
Type 1 diabetes is more dangerous than type 2.
Wrong in this basic statement. Type 2 is easier to treat. Above all curable. Type 1 usually starts earlier. Must always be treated with insulin.
Once a diabetic, always a diabetic.
Wrong – at least in the case of type 2 diabetes, which can be treated well and is also curable. Since type 1 is an autoimmune disease, patients usually remain diabetics for the rest of their lives.