Before the invention of insulin, mortality among diabetic patients was very high. But in the modern world the situation has radically changed. At present, people do not die from diabetes itself, but from its complications. According to statistics, about four million people die of diabetes every year. To live with this disease to a very old age, you need to learn to keep blood glucose under control and be under constant medical supervision.
What to do
After learning your diagnosis, many people immediately ask themselves - do they die from diabetes? Doctors try to convey to patients that death from diabetes does not occur, most often people die from its complications - stroke or myocardial infarction.
To live a long life, a person diagnosed with an incurable diabetes should completely change their life. All the newfangled medicines will not save the patient if the blood sugar level is constantly raised. Therefore, important is the lifestyle of the patient, his diet, the presence of bad habits. A person needs to get used to the fact that one constantly has to measure the glucose content in the blood and, if necessary, adjust its level.
Patients who know full information about the disease, have learned with the help of medicines to keep their illness under control. Death from diabetes, or rather from its complications, is much less common among informed patients. Doctors have found that even the most expensive medicine acts inefficiently if the sugar level is overestimated. The primary task of the patient and his attending physician is to bring glucose to normal levels.
Complications of
With increased blood sugar, vessel walls and capillaries begin to break down. As a result, the blood supply to the entire body is under threat. Complications of diabetes mellitus are chronic and acute. Chronic complications include the appearance of:
- stroke;
- infarction;
- gangrene of the lower extremities and their subsequent amputation.
These diseases are deadly to humans, the possibility of a lethal outcome is very high.
In type 1 and type 2 diabetes, acute complications often occur which can occur in the following types:
- Hypoglycemia. A person who has a very low blood sugar level falls into this state. If the coma lasts for several hours, the brain swells and the person can die.
- Hyperglycemia. This type of complication occurs when the blood sugar is high. Doctors distinguish several forms of hyperglycemia: mild( 6-10 mmol / l), medium( 1-16 mmol / l) and heavy( more than 16 mmol / l).
If a healthy person notices that after a plentiful lunch, the sugar level is approaching 10 mmol / l, this is an alarm signal. In this case, it is necessary to immediately see a doctor and conduct a diagnosis of the organism, possibly a predisposition to diabetes mellitus.
What determines the life span of a diabetic
A person who has heard a diagnosis of diabetes immediately panics, because the death rate of such people is very high. The body is gradually destroyed due to the fact that the cells do not receive blood glucose, and they are forced to take it from healthy tissues. The sooner a disease is identified, the more likely it is to live to a very old age.
In the medical literature there is a classification of the disease for diabetes of the first and second types. Between the varieties of the disease there are many similarities and differences.
- The first type of disease is found mainly in young people. In the course of illness, a person feels a constant shortage of insulin. This type is also called insulin-dependent diabetes.
Insulin-dependent patients experience constant thirst, a person can drink about five liters of water a day. There is also a feeling of hunger, but at the same time it sharply loses weight.
It is impossible to completely recover from the disease, but with all the recommendations of a doctor, it is possible to achieve its remission. Insulin therapy, small physical exertion, proper nutrition will help a person to live a normal life.
- Diabetes mellitus of the second type is most often observed in diabetics. Most often it occurs after 40 years in people who are overweight. The pancreas produces insulin in small amounts, but on them the body does not react fully. As a result, glucose accumulates in the blood, without getting into the cells.
The lifespan of a type 1 diabetic currently reaches 60-70 years. In this case, the disease should be diagnosed as early as possible, and a person throughout life controls all areas of his life.
Proper nutrition, constant exercise, abandonment of bad habits will help improve quality and life expectancy. With age, there may be problems with the cardiovascular system, the work of the kidneys. It is these problems that can cause death.
It is impossible to answer unequivocally how many live and die diabetics of the first type die, everything depends on the individuality of the organism, compliance with the prescriptions of the attending physician. But one can definitely conclude - the more responsible it is to treat the disease, the more chances to live a long life.
Lifespan of patients of type 2 disease directly depends on the age and immunity of a person. According to statistics, insulin-independent patients live on average five years longer than insulin-dependent ones, but due to the more complex course of the disease, they are given a disability.
Prevention and treatment of the second type are similar in many ways to the treatment of an insulin-dependent type, but daily monitoring of blood pressure and blood glucose is added to all activities.
How can I prolong my diabetic life?
Why is daily monitoring of glucose important? What can happen when a sharp jump in sugar? These questions are constantly asked by doctors people with diabetes. Is it possible to die from diabetes? You can die from its consequences if you do not engage in prevention and treatment. You can extend your life, but this requires some effort on the part of the patient. If you let the disease into its own right, all the complications will lead to a rapid extinction of the organism.
To ensure a comfortable life, it is necessary to fulfill certain requirements:
- Keep blood sugar in check;
- Take only those drugs that are prescribed by your doctor;
- Avoid nerve strains;
- Observe diet and daily routine.
No matter how terrible the diagnosis of the doctor is, do not despair and give up. Timely diagnosis and well-chosen treatment will increase the life span of a diabetic and improve its quality.
