Diabetes. Diabetes mellitus: how long do people live with it? How to live with diabetes

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 hypoglycemic drugs from the biguanide group (phenformin, buformin). At the prehospital stage, a 2% soda solution is injected intravenously dropwise (with the introduction of saline, acute hemolysis can develop) and oxygen therapy is performed.

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 about 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. An increase in symptoms at night is characteristic. 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 (lens opacities).

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.

Diabetes mellitus every year not only gets younger, but also increases the number of patients. According to statistics, today there are 200 million patients who have been diagnosed with this disease. Most of them have type 2 diabetes mellitus, but some people have type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Many patients are concerned about the question of what is the life expectancy if a person is diagnosed with insulin-dependent diabetes. According to doctors, first of all it depends on the patient's lifestyle and his desire to live for many years.

On average, premature death in type 1 diabetes mellitus is 2.5 times higher than in healthy people. With a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus, the mortality rate is 1.5 times higher.

Who is at risk

If we compare in previous years, then the average life expectancy of diabetics has increased significantly in recent years. Today, patients with a serious illness live about 15 years after diabetes is discovered.

If before 1965 35 percent of patients died with the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus, then in the subsequent period the mortality rate was 11 percent.

Such changes are associated with the development of modern medicine and the emergence of various drugs and devices that allow patients to independently control their disease. Previously, however, life expectancy was low due to the fact that insulin was not readily available medicine.

• The cause of death in children aged 0 to 4 years is ketoacidotic coma, which develops in conjunction with diabetes.
• Most often, type 1 diabetes mellitus is detected in children and adolescents, for this reason, at this age, there is a high mortality rate. As you know, children are not always able to independently control blood glucose levels, which leads to the development of complications. Including hypoglycemia is often the cause.
• Among adults, life expectancy is low, as a rule, people who drink alcohol and smoke. Also, the life span is shortened due to the presence of late microvascular complications of diabetes.

For this reason, diabetics decide for themselves whether to give up bad habits in favor of increasing life expectancy or continue to lead an unhealthy lifestyle.

Insulin-dependent diabetes and its features

Unlike type 2 diabetes, type 1 occurs at an early age. This is an incurable form of diabetes, during which beta cells in the pancreas are destroyed, they are responsible for the production of insulin.

Due to the complete destruction of cells, a lack of insulin in the blood is formed. As a result, glucose is unable to fully convert into energy. The main signs of the disease include:

1. frequent urination
2. dehydration of the body,
3. drastic weight loss
4. decreased vision
5. frequent fatigue,
6. feeling of hunger and thirst.

In type 1 diabetes mellitus, it is necessary to constantly monitor blood glucose levels, regularly inject insulin into the body and follow a carbohydrate diet.

Exercise is also important to help regulate blood sugar levels on your own.

Since it is not always known how the disease proceeds and whether there are complications, it is very difficult to say exactly how long the life span of diabetics is.

First of all, it depends on the patient himself and his lifestyle characteristics, so it is important to take into account all factors.

Meanwhile, insulin-dependent diabetes does indeed shorten life expectancy.

• According to statistics, more than half of diabetics have died after 40 years. This is due to the development of chronic renal failure.
• At the age of 23, patients often develop atherosclerosis. This often becomes the cause of the development of a stroke or gangrene.
• Including as complications in type 1 diabetics, other diseases can be observed that significantly reduce the average life expectancy.

Most often, after the diagnosis is known, diabetics live on average about 30 years. During this period, the patient's cardiovascular system is affected, kidney pathology develops, which becomes the cause of early death.

Considering what is detected at a young age, diabetics can live up to 50-60 years. If you monitor your health and control the sugar levels in the cut, life expectancy can be 70 years.

By gender, women with diabetes live 12 years shorter and men 20.

How to increase your lifespan

To prevent insulin-dependent diabetes from causing early death, you need to regularly monitor blood glucose levels. This can reduce the likelihood of death many times over. Every fourth diabetic, if you try, can lead a normal life and be no different from healthy people.

1. To reduce the rate of development of the disease, you need to start treatment on time and monitor blood sugar. It is necessary to tightly control glucose levels, this will help reduce the need for insulin administration.
2. Including with type 1 diabetes mellitus, one should abandon heavy physical exertion, try to avoid stressful situations that negatively affect the patient's condition.
3. Additionally, diabetics need to regularly take a blood test for hemoglobin levels. This is a must for type 1 diabetes.

In any case, if your doctor has diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetes, you shouldn't panic. An unstable psychological state can only aggravate the course of the disease and accelerate the development of complications. If you follow a competent diet, lead a healthy lifestyle, and carry out regular insulin therapy, you can live long enough, despite a serious illness.

In practice, many cases have been noted when diabetics were able to live for several decades. One of the striking examples is a diabetic who is 90 years old.

Moreover, he was diagnosed with the disease at the age of five. Adherence to all the rules of nutrition and insulin therapy helped him live up to the anniversary. This once again indicates that any serious illness weakens and does not progress, if the right approach to solving the situation is.

As doctors note, in order to cope with the disease, you need to accept the fact that the body has stopped producing the required dose of insulin in time, and make every effort to compensate for the lack of the hormone. This can be helped not only by doctors, but also by close people of the diabetic, who can support the patient and help cope with this difficult disease.

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, it is necessary first of all to 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 are most likely to 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. In addition, it is more difficult 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 alcohol is consumed in a diabetic, at 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 a deterioration in his condition and stop a 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 counterparts, and men - 20 years.

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 serious complications and die within 10 years after the disease is detected. 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.

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 for 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 may 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 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.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that is manifested by high blood glucose levels. In high concentrations, this substance turns out to be dangerous for all cells of the body. With diabetes, acute complications are possible - coma, which, without proper treatment, threaten the patient's life. In addition, late complications gradually develop, destroying vital organ systems.

What complications of diabetes affect life expectancy

Nowadays, diabetic comas are becoming less and less the cause of death. Effective medications and early detection of disease play a key role in this. The greatest danger to life is posed by late complications, namely damage to large arteries. Cardiovascular diseases rank first in the structure of mortality in patients with diabetes. Damage to the kidneys and nerve tissue is also affected.

Statistical data on the life expectancy of patients

Diabetes mellitus is divided into several types, each of which is actually an independent disease. The life expectancy of patients varies greatly with different types of the disease. According to the data of the federal target program, in Russia the average life expectancy of patients with type 1 is 55.3, and 59.1 years. With type 2 diabetes, it is much more optimistic: 71.5 years and 73.5 years for women.

The average life expectancy in Russia is 59.1 years for men and 73.0 years for women.

Thus, type 1 diabetes reduces life expectancy by 5-15 years. As for type 2, this is a disease of centenarians. According to statistics, people with this disease live even longer than others. Of course, such a paradox does not at all speak about the positive effects of type 2 diabetes on health. The data obtained reflect the high prevalence of the disease in old age.

What affects life expectancy in diabetes mellitus

Many factors affect life expectancy in diabetes. It is known that the earlier the disease debuted, the worse the prognosis. Diabetes especially shortens the years of life from childhood. Unfortunately, this is one of those factors that cannot be influenced. But there are others that can be changed.

It is known that smoking, high blood pressure and cholesterol levels affect life expectancy in diabetes. In addition, the concentration of glucose in the blood matters a lot.

Normalization of blood sugar is achieved through diet, exercise, pills and insulin injections.

If a patient with diabetes adheres to the recommendations for treatment and leads a healthy lifestyle, then he has every chance to live to a ripe old age.