Dia­be­tes

Patients suffer acutely from a feeling of thirst, fatigue and an increased urge to urinate. Diabetic coma and secondary illnesses are feared if treatment is inadequate: cardiovascular diseases, kidney disease, blindness and diseases of the nerves as well as the so-called diabetic foot.

Although sugar ingested with food enters the bloodstream, it does not reach the body's cells. These lack the necessary energy - the body falls ill.

The diagnosis is made by measuring the blood glucose level.

Treatment must be lifelong and should be regularly monitored and adjusted. Modern, good diabetes treatment has 5 elements: diet, exercise, self-control, medication and training. In very selected cases, bariatric-metabolic surgery is an option.

A key element is improving lifestyle in terms of a healthier diet and more exercise.

In type 1 diabetes, insulin is no longer produced, so insulin therapy must be started immediately. Under the guidance of a diabetes counsellor, he learns how to measure blood sugar, calculate and inject insulin. Continuous blood glucose monitoring with alarms and semi-automatic pumps help with this.

With type 2 diabetes, a lot can be achieved with lifestyle changes and weight loss. However, as medication is now also available that promotes weight loss and protects the organs at risk, this is also used at a very early stage.

If it is not possible to reduce weight and blood sugar in this way, gastric bypass surgery is a very effective therapy that can permanently eliminate diabetes in many patients.