What is the life expectancy of diabetics. Diabetes mellitus prognosis Diabetes mellitus prognosis for life

All complications of diabetes mellitus are divided into acute and late.

Acute complications are conditions that develop over days or even hours in the presence of diabetes mellitus.

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious condition that develops as a result of the accumulation of products of intermediate metabolism of fats (ketone bodies) in the blood. It occurs with concomitant diseases, primarily infections, injuries, operations, and inadequate nutrition. Can lead to loss of consciousness and disruption of vital body functions. It is a vital indication for urgent hospitalization.

Hypoglycemia - a decrease in blood glucose levels below the normal value (usually below 3.3 mmol / l), occurs due to an overdose of antihyperglycemic drugs, concomitant diseases, unusual physical activity or insufficient nutrition, strong alcohol intake. First aid consists in giving the painful a solution of sugar or any sweet drink inside, taking food rich in carbohydrates (sugar or honey can be kept under the tongue for faster absorption), if it is possible to inject glucagon preparations into the muscle, injecting a 40% glucose solution into the vein (before the introduction of 40% glucose solution must be injected subcutaneously vitamin B1 - prevention of local muscle spasm).

Hyperosmolar coma. It occurs mainly in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes with or without a history of diabetes and is always associated with severe dehydration. Polyuria and polydipsia are common, lasting from days to weeks before the syndrome develops. Elderly people are prone to hyperosmolar coma, as they are more likely to experience impaired perception of the feeling of thirst. Another difficult problem is renal function alteration (usually found in the elderly), which interferes with the clearance of excess glucose in the urine. Both factors contribute to dehydration and marked hyperglycemia. The absence of metabolic acidosis is due to the presence of circulating insulin in the blood and / or lower levels of counterinsulin hormones. These two factors inhibit lipolysis and ketone production. Hyperglycemia that has already begun leads to glucosuria, osmotic diuresis, hyperosmolarity, hypovolemia, shock, and, in the absence of treatment, to death. It is a vital indication for urgent hospitalization. At the prehospital stage, a hypotonic (0.45%) solution of sodium chloride is injected intravenously to normalize osmotic pressure, and with a sharp decrease in blood pressure, mezaton or dopamine is injected. It is also advisable (as with other coma) to conduct oxygen therapy.

Lactic acid coma in patients with diabetes mellitus is caused by the accumulation of lactic acid in the blood and more often occurs in patients over 50 years old against the background of cardiovascular, hepatic and renal failure, reduced tissue oxygen supply and, as a consequence, the accumulation of lactic acid in the tissues. The main reason for the development of lactacidotic coma is a sharp shift in the acid-base balance to the acidic side; dehydration, as a rule, with this type of coma is not observed. Acidosis causes a violation of microcirculation, the development of vascular collapse. Clinically, there are clouding of consciousness (from drowsiness to complete loss of consciousness), impaired breathing and the appearance of Kussmaul breathing, a decrease in blood pressure, a very small amount of excreted urine (oliguria) or its complete absence (anuria). The smell of acetone from the mouth in patients with lactacidotic coma usually does not happen, acetone in the urine is not detected. The concentration of glucose in the blood is normal or slightly increased. It should be remembered that lactacidotic coma often develops in patients receiving antihyperglycemic drugs from the biguanide group (phenformin, buformin). At the pre-hospital stage, a 2% soda solution is injected intravenously dropwise (with the introduction of saline, acute hemolysis can develop) and oxygen therapy is carried out.

Late complications of diabetes mellitus are a group of complications, the development of which takes months, and in most cases, years of the course of the disease.

Diabetic retinopathy - damage to the retina in the form of microaneurysms, punctate and spotted hemorrhages, solid exudates, edema, and the formation of new vessels. Ends with hemorrhages in the fundus, can lead to retinal detachment. The initial stages of retinopathy are determined in 25% of patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus. The incidence of retinopathy increases by 8% per year, so that after 8 years from the onset of the disease, retinopathy is detected in 50% of all patients, and after 20 years in approximately 100% of patients. It is more common in type 2, the degree of its severity correlates with the severity of nephropathy. The main cause of blindness in middle-aged and elderly people.

Diabetic micro- and macroangiopathy is a violation of vascular permeability, an increase in their fragility, a tendency to thrombosis and the development of atherosclerosis (occurs early, mainly small vessels are affected).

Diabetic polyneuropathy is most often in the form of glove-and-stocking bilateral peripheral neuropathy that begins in the lower extremities. Loss of pain and temperature sensitivity is the most important factor in the development of neuropathic ulcers and joint dislocations. Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy are numbness, burning sensation, or paresthesia beginning in the distal regions of the limb. Characterized by increased symptoms at night. Loss of sensation leads to easily occurring injuries.

Diabetic nephropathy - kidney damage, first in the form of microalbuminuria (excretion of albumin protein in the urine), then proteinuria. Leads to the development of chronic renal failure.

Diabetic arthropathy - joint pain, crunching, restriction of mobility, decrease in the amount of synovial fluid and increase in its viscosity.

Diabetic ophthalmopathy, in addition to retinopathy, includes the early development of cataracts (clouding of the lens).

Diabetic encephalopathy - changes in the psyche and mood, emotional lability or depression.

Diabetic foot - lesion of the patient's feet with diabetes mellitus in the form of purulent-necrotic processes, ulcers and osteoarticular lesions, which occurs against the background of changes in peripheral nerves, blood vessels, skin and soft tissues, bones and joints. It is the main cause of amputation in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Currently, the prognosis for all types of diabetes mellitus is conditionally favorable, with adequate treatment and adherence to the diet, the ability to work remains. The progression of complications significantly slows down or stops completely. However, it should be noted that in most cases, as a result of treatment, the cause of the disease is not eliminated, and therapy is only symptomatic.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus

The life expectancy of type 1 diabetics has increased significantly in recent years with the introduction of modern insulin and self-control. The life expectancy of those who fell ill after 1965 is 15 years longer than those who fell ill 1950 -1965.

The 30-year mortality rate of type 1 diabetics who fell ill from 1965 to 1980 is 11%, in those who were diagnosed with diabetes from 1950-1965 it was 35%.

The main cause of death in children 0-4 years old is ketoacidotic coma at the onset of the disease. Adolescents are also at risk. The cause of death can be neglect of treatment, ketoacidosis, hypoglycemia. Alcohol consumption and late microvascular complications of diabetes are a common cause of death in adults.

Maintaining tight blood sugar control has been shown to prevent and slow the progression, and even improve the course of pre-existing complications of type 1 diabetes.

American Bob Krause has been suffering from type 1 diabetes for 85 years, he was diagnosed at the age of 5. He recently celebrated his 90th anniversary. He still measures his blood sugar many times every day, maintains a healthy lifestyle, eats well, is physically active. He was diagnosed in 1926, shortly after insulin was synthesized. His younger brother, who had fallen ill a year earlier, had died because insulin was not yet available for use.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus

The prognosis for life in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus strongly correlates with the degree of disease control, and also depends on gender, age and the presence of complications. You can calculate life expectancy using a table. If you smoke, then use the right half of the table (smoker), if you do not smoke, then use the left half (non-smoker). Men and women, respectively, are in the upper and lower half of the table. Then we select a column according to your age and glycated hemoglobin level. All that remains is to compare your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. At the intersection, you will see a number - this is life expectancy.

For example, the life expectancy of a 55-year-old smoker with 5 years of diabetes, blood pressure 180 mm Hg, cholesterol level 8, and HbA1c 10% will be 13 years, for the same non-smoker man, blood pressure 120 mm Hg , cholesterol4, and glycated hemoglobin 6% will be 22 years.

Using the table, you can calculate life expectancy, as well as find out how changes in lifestyle and treatment of comorbidities will affect the prognosis. For example, take a 65-year-old male smoker with a blood pressure of 180, HBA1c 8%, and total cholesterol level 7. A decrease in glycated hemoglobin from 8 to 6% will increase life expectancy by one year, and a decrease in cholesterol from 7 to 4 will increase the duration of life by 1.5 years, a decrease in systolic blood pressure from 180 to 120 adds 2.2 years of life, and quitting smoking will add 1.6 years of life.

Is type 2 diabetes less serious than type 1 diabetes?

Typically, type 2 diabetes develops more slowly than type 1 diabetes. As a result, its late diagnosis is possible, after the development of complications. Since type 2 diabetes occurs at an older age, its effect on life expectancy is usually less.

If diabetes mellitus is diagnosed, how long does not everyone live with it? Life expectancy is determined, among other things, by the type of disease. There are 2 types of pathology, they are incurable, but they can be corrected. More than 200 million people in the world suffer from diabetes, 20 million people die from it every year. Diabetes mellitus ranks third in mortality after oncology and cardiovascular diseases. In Russia, 17% of the population suffers from the disease. Every 10 years the number of people with diabetes in the world doubles and the disease continues to get younger - such is the depressing statistics.

The essence of the problem

How many years do diabetics live? There are also encouraging facts: in 1965 type 1 diabetes patients died early in 35% of cases, now they live twice as long, and their mortality rate has dropped to 11%. In the second type, patients live up to 70 years and more. So to believe or not to believe the statistics is a matter of everyone's choice. Endocrinologists, when asked how long they live with diabetes, say that it depends on their severity, but do not go into details regarding the meaning of this phrase. And all you need is to warn about diet, exercise and the need for constant treatment.

It turns out that some of the blame for the shortening of the life of patients lies with the specialists.

When diabetes is diagnosed, life goes on and only you can lengthen it. The incurability of the disease should be taken immediately and not panicked about it. Patients with diabetes are described by the ancient Greek physician Demetros; then this pathology was called loss of moisture, because a person was constantly thirsty. Such people lived very little and died before the age of 30; as it is now clear, they had type 1 diabetes.

And type 2 diabetes simply did not exist because people did not live to see it. What about today? With type 1, you can live with diabetes fully and efficiently, and with type 2, you can get rid of it altogether for a long time. But miracles do not come by themselves, they must be created. The essence of the disease lies in the fact that the pancreatic (pancreas) gland ceases to cope with its task of producing insulin or produces it normally, but the tissues do not assimilate the hormone.

Type 1 diabetes

It is called insulin-dependent because it stops the production of the hormone by the gland. This type of diabetes is quite rare (only in 10% of cases), it is diagnosed in children and young people. It originates from bad heredity or after a viral infection, if it led to a hormonal disruption in the body. In such a situation, the human immune system attacks its own pancreatic gland and antibodies begin to destroy it like a stranger. The process occurs quickly, the damaged gland stops working, and insulin is not produced. In such a situation, to maintain life, the body must receive insulin from the outside.

Type 2 diabetes

But this is the same diabetes that everyone has heard and for which glucometers are so often advertised. It is recorded after 40-50 years. He has 2 main causative factors - heredity and obesity. Insulin with this type is produced, but the tissues do not absorb it, therefore it is called insulin resistant. Here the hormone itself does not perform the task. This pathology develops gradually, gradually, a person may not know for a long time that he has diabetes; the symptoms of the disease are milder.

Regardless of the type, the signs of diabetes are still common:

• increased thirst, constantly wanting to eat;
• there is severe fatigue, drowsiness during the day;
• dry mouth;
• urination becomes more frequent;
• scratches appear on the skin due to constant itching;
• even small scratches do not heal well.

There is one significant difference between the two types: in the first case, the patient is rapidly losing weight, with type 2 - he gets fat.

The insidiousness of diabetes lies in its complications, not in itself.

How long do you live with type 2 diabetes? In type 1 diabetes, the mortality rate is 2.6 times higher than in healthy people, and in type 2, it is 1.6 times higher. Life expectancy in type 1 diabetes mellitus is slightly more than 50 years, sometimes it reaches 60.

Diabetes risk groups

Those who are at risk of severe diabetes are:

• alcoholics;
• smokers;
• children under 12 years old;
• adolescents;
• elderly patients with atherosclerosis.

Type 1 diabetes is recorded in children and adolescents. How long their lifespan will be depends entirely on the control of their parents and the literacy of the doctor, because children at this age are not able to understand the seriousness of the state of affairs, for them there is no concept of death from eating sweets and drinking soda. Such children should receive insulin for life, constantly (and on time).

If we talk about smokers and lovers of alcohol, then even with the correct observance of all the other recommendations, they can only last up to 40 years, that is how harmful these 2 habits are. With atherosclerosis, strokes and gangrene are more common - such patients are doomed. Surgeons can only extend their life by several years.

What happens in the body during the circulation of "sweet blood" through the vessels? Firstly, it is thicker, which means that the load on the heart increases dramatically. Secondly, sugar tears apart the walls of blood vessels, in much the same way that cats tear up upholstered furniture.

Holes form on their walls, which are immediately helpfully filled with cholesterol plaques. That's all - the rest is already going on the knurled one. Therefore, you need to know that DM primarily affects the vessels, causing their irreversible changes. Hence, gangrene, and non-healing of ulcers, and blindness, and uremic coma, and so on - everything that is lethal. After all, the aging process in the body has been developing since the age of 23, it is inevitable for everyone. Diabetes speeds up this process at times, and cell regeneration slows down. These are not horror stories, but a call to action.

It is possible to live longer only with tight constant control of blood sugar, diet and physical activity.

A very large and bad role for diabetics is played by stress and panic about "how to live with it", as well as increased physical activity. They provoke the release of glucose and take away the strength from the patient to fight, the hormones cortisol are released into the blood, which causes jumps in blood pressure, the vessels are damaged, which aggravates the situation.

In the life of a diabetic, there should be only positive and calmness, concentration in thoughts and actions. So, with type 1, subject to constant control of blood sugar, following all the recommendations, patients will be able to live up to 60–65 years, and a third of them will live more than 70. The danger of type 1 diabetes is that it can develop a diabetic coma, as well as irreversible processes occur in the kidneys and heart. Such patients should have a bracelet on their hand indicating the diagnosis, then it will be easier for an ambulance who has come to call others to provide the necessary assistance. To avoid the pathological scenario of hypoglycemia, a person must have a supply of glucose tablets with him. A patient with experience, already on an intuitive level, can understand that it is time for him to inject insulin, which he desires to have with him.

How long do you live with type 1 diabetes? Insulin-dependent women live 20 years, and men - 12 years less than their healthy peers. These patients are completely dependent on their loved ones, on their strict control.

About the second type

This is the second type of diabetes, it is diagnosed 9 times more often than type 1, after 50 years and older, when, in addition to life experience, there is also the presence of many chronic ailments. It can be caused by heredity and a bad lifestyle. There may not be obvious symptoms, but a person suddenly begins to mope with the cardiovascular system and jump in blood pressure. The 2nd place is occupied by renal pathology. When examining such patients, they often have type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Complications of pathology:

• strokes, myocardial infarction;
• nephropathy;
• retinopathy (damage to the retina of the eye with blindness);
• limb amputation;
• fatty hepatosis;
• polyneuropathy with loss of sensitivity, resulting in muscle atrophy, convulsions;
• trophic ulcers.

Such patients should constantly have their blood pressure and blood sugar under control. To prolong life, a person must adhere to the prescribed treatment regimen. He should get enough rest and sleep, on time and eat right. The regime must be observed everywhere, regardless of the place of stay. Relatives should cheer up the patient, not letting him sour in despair.

According to statistics, life expectancy with diabetes 2 can be extended with the correct lifestyle. It will decrease by only 5 years in comparison with non-ill people - this is the prognosis. But this is only if the regime is fulfilled. Moreover, the mortality rate in men is higher, because women usually follow all the prescriptions more carefully. Interestingly, type 2 diabetes increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease after age 60.

Carbohydrate metabolism is disrupted in the sense that cells become insensitive to insulin and it cannot penetrate into them.

Utilization of glucose does not occur, and it begins to grow in the blood. And then the pancreas stops producing insulin altogether. It becomes necessary to obtain it from the outside (at the most extreme stage of pathology). How long are people with diabetes living today? This is influenced by lifestyle and age.

The growth and rejuvenation of diabetes is associated with the fact that there is a general aging of the world's population. Another problem is that with the current advanced technologies, people's habits have radically changed for a long time: motionless sitting at work, in front of computers, increased physical inactivity, frequent consumption of fast foods, stress, nervous tension, obesity - all these reasons shift indicators towards young people. And one more fact: it is profitable for pharmacists not to invent a cure for diabetes, profits are growing. Therefore, drugs are produced that only relieve symptoms, but do not remove the cause. This means that the rescue of drowning people is the work of the drowning people themselves, to a large extent. Don't forget about exercise and diet.

The amount of glucose in the blood determines 3 degrees of severity of diabetes: mild - blood sugar up to 8.2 mmol / l; medium - up to 11; severe - over 11.1 mmol / l.

Disability with type 2 diabetes

Half of patients with type 2 diabetes are doomed to disability. This can only be avoided by patients who carefully monitor their health. With moderate diabetes, when all vital organs are still working normally, but there is a decrease in overall performance, a third group of disability is given for a period of up to 1 year.

Patients should not work in hazardous industries, on night shifts, in severe temperature conditions, have irregular working hours and travel on business trips.

In advanced stages, when people need outside care, a non-working group 1 or 2 is given.

The diet becomes necessary even just for life. The ratio of BZHU in percent should be: 25-20-55. Preference is given to the right carbohydrates, preferably vegetable fats. It is necessary to limit the consumption of sweet fruits, exclude foods with sugar, do not forget about vitamins and minerals. More fiber, cereals and greens are recommended.

Chronic complications

Complications develop with many years of illness with type 2 diabetes. By that time, the vessels were already affected, the nerve endings too, the trophism of the tissues was disturbed. As a result of these processes, internal organs gradually degrade - these are the kidneys, heart, skin, eyes, nerve endings, and the central nervous system. They simply cease to fulfill their functions. If large vessels are affected, then there is a threat to the brain. When the walls are damaged, they narrow in the lumen, become fragile, like glass, and their elasticity is lost. Diabetic neuropathy develops after 5 years of high blood sugar.

A diabetic foot develops - the limbs lose sensitivity, go numb, trophic ulcers and gangrene appear on them. The patient's legs will not feel burns, as was the case with the actress Natalya Kustinskaya, whose feet were under a hot battery all night after falling, but she did not feel it.

In diabetes mellitus 2, nephropathy is in the first place in mortality, followed by heart and eye diseases. The first turns into chronic renal failure, organ transplantation may be required, which, in turn, is fraught with new complications during the operation. Furunculosis develops on the skin in places of friction and excessive sweating.

Diabetics often have high blood pressure, which remains high even during nighttime rest hours, which increases the risk of strokes with cerebral edema and myocardial infarction. Interestingly, strokes in type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop during the daytime against a background of moderately elevated blood pressure.

Half of diabetics develop early heart attacks with severe symptoms.

But at the same time, a person may not feel pain in the heart due to a violation of the sensitivity of the tissues.

Vascular disorders in men lead to impotence, and in women - to frigidity and dryness of the mucous membranes. With a significant history of the disease, signs of mental disorders in the form of encephalopathy develop: there is a tendency to depression, mood instability, increased nervousness and loudness. This is especially noticeable with fluctuations in sugar. In the end, patients develop dementia. At the same time, the inverse ratio of these indicators is as follows: with low sugar, the state of health is worse, but there is no dementia; at high - the state of health may be good, but mental disorders develop. Retinopathy is possible, which leads to cataracts and blindness.

Prevention of complications and lengthening of life

The key to health is adherence to the daily regimen. The endocrinologist will explain everything - the rest depends on your willpower. The lifestyle of diabetes mellitus must change radically. Negative mood and emotions are completely excluded. You have to become an optimist and learn to live differently. It is impossible to predict the course of the disease, but it is possible to rely on factors affecting the prolongation of life.

How to live with diabetes? Taking medications should be combined with herbal medicine (teas and herbal infusions). Regular monitoring of blood and urine for sugar, strict adherence to the daily regimen with adequate rest and sleep, moderate physical activity is necessary. How to live with diabetes? Learn to meditate and relax. Diabetes medications do not need to be taken in excess.

This can lead to complications from the internal organs, since they all have their own side effects. Living with diabetes completely eliminates self-medication and self-regulation of doses. Do not oppress yourself with thoughts of illness, do not forget to enjoy life, family and children. Train yourself to exercise in the morning. Diabetes and lifestyle are becoming inextricably linked.

If all these points are observed, type 2 diabetes can only apply for 5 years of your life, and type 1 diabetes - for 15, but all this is individual. The life expectancy of patients with diabetes has increased to 75 and 80 years. There are people who live both 85 and 90 years.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is an incurable chronic disease that is most often diagnosed in patients during childhood and adolescence. This type of diabetes is an autoimmune disease and is characterized by the complete cessation of insulin secretion due to the destruction of pancreatic cells.

Since type 1 diabetes begins to develop in a patient at an earlier age than type 2 diabetes, its effect on the patient's life expectancy is more pronounced. In such patients, the disease passes into a more severe stage much earlier and is accompanied by the development of dangerous complications.

But life expectancy in type 1 diabetes largely depends on the patient himself and his responsible attitude to treatment. Therefore, speaking about how long diabetics live, one must first of all note the factors that can prolong the patient's life and make it more fulfilling.

Causes of early death in type 1 diabetes

Half a century ago, mortality among patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus in the first years after diagnosis was 35%. Today it has dropped to 10%. This is largely due to the emergence of better and more affordable insulin drugs, as well as the development of other treatments for this disease.

But despite all the advances in medicine, doctors have not been able to nullify the likelihood of early death in type 1 diabetes. Most often, it is caused by the patient's negligence towards his illness, a regular violation of the diet, the regimen of insulin injections and other medical prescriptions.

Another factor that negatively affects the life expectancy of a patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus is the patient's too young age. In this case, all responsibility for its successful treatment falls solely on the shoulders of the parents.

The main causes of early death in type 1 diabetics are:

1. Ketoacidotic coma in diabetic children not older than 4 years;
2. Ketoacidosis and hypoglycemia in children from 4 to 15 years old;
3. Regular consumption of alcoholic beverages among adult patients.

Diabetes mellitus in children under 4 years of age can be very severe. At this age, just a few hours are enough for an increase in blood sugar levels to develop into severe hyperglycemia, and after a ketoacidotic coma.

In this condition, the child has the highest level of acetone in the blood and severe dehydration develops. Even with timely medical attention, doctors are not always able to save young children who have fallen into a ketoacidotic coma.

School-aged children with type 1 diabetes mellitus most often die from severe hypoglycemia and ketoacidase. This often occurs as a result of the inattention of young patients to their well-being, which is why they may miss the first signs of deterioration.

A child is more likely than an adult to skip insulin injections, which can lead to a sharp jump in blood sugar. It also makes it harder for children to stick to a low-carb diet and give up sweets.

Many small diabetics, secretly from their parents, eat candy or ice cream without adjusting the dosage of insulin, which can lead to hypoglycemic or ketoacidotic coma.

In adults with type 1 diabetes, the main causes of early death are bad habits, especially the frequent use of alcoholic beverages. As you know, alcohol is contraindicated for diabetics and its regular intake can significantly worsen the patient's condition.

When drinking alcohol in a diabetic, first there is a rise, and then a sharp drop in blood sugar levels, which leads to such a dangerous condition as hypoglycemia. Being drunk, the patient cannot respond in time to the deterioration of his condition and stop the hypoglycemic attack, which is why he often falls into a coma and dies.

How many people live with type 1 diabetes

Sugar level

Today, life expectancy in type 1 diabetes mellitus has increased markedly and is at least 30 years since the onset of the disease. Thus, a person suffering from this dangerous chronic disease can live for more than 40 years.

On average, people with type 1 diabetes live 50-60 years. But subject to careful monitoring of blood sugar levels and prevention of complications, life can be increased to 70-75 years. At the same time, there are cases when a person diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus has a life expectancy of more than 90 years.

But such a long life is not typical for diabetics. Typically, people with this disease live less than the population's average life expectancy. At the same time, according to statistics, women live 12 years less than their healthy peers, and men - 20 years less.

Diabetes of the first form is characterized by rapid development with pronounced manifestation of symptoms, which distinguishes it from type 2 diabetes mellitus. Therefore, people suffering from juvenile diabetes have a shorter life span than patients with type 2 diabetes.

In addition, type 2 diabetes usually affects adults and the elderly, while type 1 diabetes usually affects children and young people under the age of 30. For this reason, juvenile diabetes leads to the death of the patient at a much earlier age than non-insulin dependent diabetes.

Factors shortening the life of a patient diagnosed with type 1 diabetes:

• Diseases of the cardiovascular system. High blood sugar levels damage the vascular walls, which leads to the rapid development of vascular atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. As a consequence, many people with diabetes die from heart attacks or strokes.
• Damage to the peripheral vessels of the heart. The defeat of the capillary, and then the venous system becomes the main cause of circulatory disorders in the extremities. This leads to the formation of non-healing trophic ulcers on the legs, and in the future to the loss of a limb.
• Renal failure Elevated urinary glucose and acetone levels destroy kidney tissue and cause severe kidney failure. It is this complication in diabetes that becomes the main cause of death among patients over 40 years of age.
• Damage to the central and peripheral nervous system. The destruction of nerve fibers leads to loss of sensitivity in the limbs, deterioration of vision and, which is especially important, to irregularities in the heart rhythm. This complication can cause sudden cardiac arrest and death of the patient.

These are the most common, but not the only, causes of death among diabetics. - This is a disease that causes a whole complex of pathologies in the patient's body, which, after a while, can lead to the death of the patient. Therefore, it is necessary to take this disease seriously and start preventing complications long before they appear.

How to prolong life with type 1 diabetes

Like any other person, diabetics dream of living as long as possible and leading a fulfilling lifestyle. But is it possible to change the negative prognosis for this disease and prolong the life of patients with diabetes for a longer period?

Of course, yes, and no matter what type of diabetes was diagnosed in a patient - one or two, it is possible to increase life expectancy with any diagnosis. But for this, the patient should strictly comply with one condition, namely, always be extremely attentive to his condition.

Otherwise, he can very soon earn the hardest complications and die within 10 years after the detection of the disease. There are several simple methods that will help protect a diabetic from early death and prolong his life for many years:

1. Constant monitoring of blood sugar levels and regular injections of insulin;
2. Eating a strict, low-carbohydrate diet of foods with a low glycemic index. Also, patients with diabetes should avoid fatty foods and foods, since excess weight aggravates the course of the disease;
3. Regular physical activity that helps burn excess blood sugar and maintain the patient's normal weight;
4. Exclusion of any stressful situations from the patient's life, since strong emotional experiences provoke an increase in the level of glucose in the body;
5. Thorough care of the body, especially the feet. This will help to avoid the formation of trophic ulcers (more about);
6. Regular preventive examinations by a doctor, which will allow timely identification of the deterioration of the patient's condition and, if necessary, adjust the treatment regimen.

Life expectancy in type 1 diabetes mellitus largely depends on the patient himself and his responsible attitude towards his condition. With timely detection of the disease and proper treatment, it is possible to live with diabetes until old age. The video in this article will tell you if you can die from diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus type 1 is an incurable disease at present, the number of cases of which is up to 10% of the total number of patients with diabetes. The development of the disease occurs as a result of dysfunction of the pancreas, which results in insufficient insulin secretion and an increase in blood sugar levels. Typically, diabetes develops at an early age.

Prognosis and consequences of type 1 diabetes mellitus

The prognosis for the life expectancy of a patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus is below average. Up to 45-50% of patients die 37-42 years after the onset of the disease from chronic renal failure. After 23-27 years, patients develop atherosclerotic complications, which leads to death from stroke, gangrene, after amputation, ischemic lesions of the legs or coronary heart disease. Independent risk factors for premature death are neuropathy, arterial hypertension, etc.

To prevent and slow down the progression of the disease, to improve the course of existing complications, tight control over the sugar level is necessary. When this condition is met, the initial remission occurs in every fourth patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus. During the period of initial remission, which is predicted to last from 3 months to six months (in rare cases, up to 1 year), the general condition stabilizes and the need for insulin decreases markedly.

It has been proven that diabetes progresses gradually, provided that a rational work and living regime is observed. Therefore, it is vital for diabetics to avoid physical overload and emotional stress, which can accelerate the development of the disease. It is very important to continuously maintain the target values ​​for compensation of type 1 diabetes mellitus, due to which acute complications of the disease develop much later. To minimize the risk of complications in type 1 diabetes, daily glycemic self-monitoring, maintenance of hemoglobin levels in the blood and timely changes in insulin dosage are also required. All of the above strongly affects the life expectancy of patients.

The prognosis for the life expectancy of a patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus depends on a number of factors, including the timely determination of the disease, its severity, correct diagnosis and treatment, and the patient's age. Unfortunately, every second person with diabetes does not live to middle age. Although, if you maintain normal blood glucose levels and, if possible, block the development of complications associated with diabetes, the quality and duration of life increases.