Prevention of diabetes. Products for the prevention and treatment of diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the regulation of the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood is disturbed due to insufficient or ineffective action of insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. Diabetes can lead to serious complications such as damage to the kidneys, eyes, nerves, heart and blood vessels. According to the World Health Organization, about 422 million people suffer from diabetes in the world.

There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is characterized by the fact that the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, so people with this type of diabetes need regular injections of insulin from the outside. Type 1 diabetes usually develops in childhood or adolescence and can be caused by genetic or immune factors. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by the fact that the pancreas produces insulin, but the cells of the body do not respond to it properly, so glucose is not absorbed into the tissues and accumulates in the blood. Type 2 diabetes usually develops in adulthood and can be associated with excess weight, physical inactivity, an unbalanced diet, hypertension, and other risk factors.

Diabetes treatment aims to maintain blood sugar levels within normal limits, prevent complications and improve patients' quality of life. Treatment of diabetes includes the following components:

• Diet therapy. This means that people with diabetes should follow a healthy diet that involves limiting the consumption of sugar, saturated fat, salt, and alcohol, as well as increasing the consumption of fiber, vegetables, fruits, proteins, and unsaturated fats. It is also important to control the caloric content of food, to divide food into portions during the day, to coordinate nutrition with medication and physical activity.

• Physical activity. This means that people with diabetes should regularly engage in physical exercises that increase glucose consumption by cells, reduce weight, improve heart and vascular function, and improve mood and well-being. It is recommended to engage in physical activity for at least 150 minutes per week, dividing it into aerobic (walking, running, swimming, cycling) and strength (lifting weights, gymnastics, yoga) exercises. Before starting physical activity, you should consult a doctor, measure your blood sugar level, have water and fast-acting carbohydrates (candies, juice, glucose) with you in case of hypoglycemia.

• Drug therapy. This means that people with diabetes should take medicines that lower blood sugar under the supervision of a doctor. Medicines can be of different groups: sulfonylureas, biguanides, thiazolidinediones, alpha-glycosidase inhibitors, DPP-4 inhibitors, GLP-1 agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors, insulin. The choice of drugs, their dosage and regimen is determined by the doctor individually for each patient, taking into account the type of diabetes, the degree of compensation, the presence of complications, concomitant diseases, age, weight, gender, allergic reactions, etc. Medicines must be taken regularly, without interruptions and self-medication, in compliance with the rules of storage and transportation.

• Self control. This means that people with diabetes must independently measure their blood sugar level using a glucometer, keep a self-monitoring diary where they record glucose readings, medication intake, nutrition, physical activity, the presence of symptoms of hypo- or hyperglycemia, and changes in well-being. Self-monitoring helps to assess the effectiveness of treatment, identify deviations from the norm, prevent complications, and timely consult a doctor for correction of therapy.

• Education. This means that people with diabetes should receive reliable and up-to-date information about their disease, its causes, symptoms, complications, methods of treatment, prevention, self-control, lifestyle, rights and responsibilities of patients. Education helps to increase the level of knowledge, skills, motivation, responsibility, self-confidence, self-discipline, self-help, self-regulation, self-esteem, self-esteem of people with diabetes, as well as to improve their cooperation with medical personnel, family, friends, and society.