What complications can happen suddenly?
Death can occur quickly and suddenly from acute heart failure, and renal ischemia, which in the advanced stage of diabetes is corrected only by hemodialysis.
Sometimes, to save a patient’s life, doctors resort to a kidney transplant. Respiratory depression may be triggered by muscle weakness due to worsening neuromuscular conduction.
Disorders of homeostasis lead to a decrease in immunity, which means that a person loses the ability to effectively resist infectious agents. Diabetics are susceptible to the development of acute respiratory viral infections, bacterial sinusitis, otitis media, and severe pneumonia.
Most often, doctors have to deal with critical conditions, the occurrence of which is the result of deep, sometimes irreversible metabolic disorders. The biological medium becomes acidic, and cellular metabolism becomes impossible under such conditions.
Another type of diabetes can be lactic acidosis when there is no production of ketone bodies, but the processes of cellular osmosis are seriously disrupted.
Rare causes of death
Renal failure can cause death in profound neglect. In the terminal stage of diabetes, the kidneys are unable to perform the cleansing function, toxic substances accumulate in the body, and urine stops passing. In this case, if you do not help the patient in the form of hemodialysis (blood purification), the person can die from diabetes.
A diabetic foot can eventually lead to sepsis (a bacterial infection of the blood), and in severe cases, it can lead to a person’s death. Renal failure and diabetic foot extremely rarely have a neglected nature, in which an adverse outcome is possible.
It has been experimentally proven that diabetes is associated with the development of certain neoplasms (oncological processes). More common oncological formations occur in the pancreas and bladder. Malignant formations without treatment lead to the death of the person.
Numerous bad habits affect the course of diabetes and can worsen the disease and contribute to its progression, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, a sedentary lifestyle, and an unhealthy diet.
By the way, we recommend reading the article Insulinoma: symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
What happens to the body’s systems with constantly elevated sugar levels?
Directly fatal results in consistently high glycemic levels. Under the influence of high glucose concentration, the parameters of homeostasis in the body change.
There is a change in acid-base balance and metabolism of water and salt. Violates the nutrition of tissues and cells, the work of enzymes. Toxic metabolic products accumulate, disrupting the nervous system, and especially the brain.
In conditions of impaired metabolism, the organs, as long as they can, for a fairly short period, function to the fullest, and then various malfunctions are made in the work, especially in the elderly. Gradually, all organ systems are involved in the pathological process.
Complications of diabetes relate primarily to the circulatory system, as it destroys the walls of blood vessels and small capillaries. Due to that, the blood supply to the retina of the eye, brain, kidneys, and limbs suffers.
The atherogenic fractions of cholesterol are more easily retained on the damaged intima of the arteries, and many atherosclerotic plaques grow rapidly.
In people with underlying heart disease, such processes lead to exacerbation of existing pathologies. Blood pressure and the risks of vascular catastrophes increase.
There is a very high probability of stroke, especially against the background of increased content of ketone bodies in the blood. Impaired glucose utilization deprives the brain of a unique energy resource.
Therefore, under conditions of starvation of brain tissue, neurons begin to die. The diabetic falls into a coma and then, without qualified medical care, clinical and biological death occurs.
Hyperglycemic insulin pump
Sudden death
Sudden death can be the result of acute complications of diabetes. The fact is that an excessive amount of glucose in the blood causes severe intoxication of the brain.
In the beginning, this can be manifested by small discomfort, headache, and as a consequence of weakened consciousness (loss of consciousness), and in the worst case, coma can occur.
Several factors can lead to such contagiously high glycemic levels:
- improper treatment tactics;
- incorrect insulin dose;
- self-withdrawal of insulin by the patient;
- substandard sugar-lowering drugs or their use after the expiration date;
- diet failure.
The products of glucose metabolism are also toxic substances (ketone bodies, acetone, lactic acid), which can cause coma and death by a rapid rise in blood concentration.
That is why it is very important for people with diabetes in history to regularly monitor their blood sugar levels at home, so as not to die from acute hyperglycemia.
Cardiovascular mortality
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common cause of sudden death. It is caused by cardiac failure. As a result, ventricular fibrillation results in cardiac arrest.
With fibrillation comes a sudden contraction of the heart muscle fibers. The organ loses the ability to pump blood into the largest blood vessel in our body - the aorta. Thus, blood circulation is interrupted. Death from diabetes can also occur with coronary arteriosclerosis.
In most cases, the fatal outcome can happen unexpectedly: at work, at home, or on the street. However, she was preceded by some symptoms (they appeared a few weeks before her death).
As a rule, it is a deterioration in well-being, pain in the heart, and a drop in mood. If such symptoms occur in diabetes, you should consult a cardiologist immediately.
Patients with diabetes need to know that elevated blood insulin is a factor in sudden cardiac death.
The main causes of death
With diabetes, blood sugar levels rise. As long as its amount is maintained at a normal level, there is no problem. However, with an excessive amount of glucose, its destructive effect on blood vessels is manifested. Atherosclerotic plaques appear in them, and the vascular lumen is clogged.
In diabetes, the risk of progression of cardiovascular pathologies increases 3 times. Heart attacks and strokes are one of the leading causes of death in diabetics. You can prevent death if you do not follow the doctor's instructions.
However cardiovascular problems are not the only cause of death.
With insulin-dependent diabetes, you can die from developing:
What causes diabetics with another type of disease? Among the main reasons are:
- decreased immunity and association with serious infectious diseases (for example, tuberculosis);
- development of diabetic nephropathy;
- the occurrence of liver failure due to a violation of the insulin production process by the pancreas and due to the lack of adequate liver response to insulin;
- violation of carbohydrate metabolism and accumulation of ketone bodies in the body: their toxic effects are fatal;
- neuropathy (impaired transmission of nerve impulses) and muscle atrophy caused by this disease.
prediabetes
To understand the risk of developing prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, just fill out a simple questionnaire. Complete all eight questions. Choose one right answer and mark it for each question.
Add any points that correspond to your responses to the questions. Use the overall score to determine your risk of developing diabetes or prediabetes.
Learning about the disease as soon as possible is extremely important because it is not possible to recover from diabetes, but it is realistic to reverse the disease at an early stage. To normalize glucose levels, it is enough to lose weight and start moving.
Signs of diabetes. When you need to turn on the alarm
Sad statistics
Nearly 65% of non-insulin-dependent diabetics die from cardiovascular or vascular problems. In type 1 diabetes, mortality, for this reason, occurs in 35% of cases. Diabetics are much less likely to survive a heart attack than other people. They have more extensive lesion sites.
- atherosclerotic plaques in the brain's blood vessels;
- hypertension characterized by severe spikes in blood pressure;
- disrupted cerebral blood flow.
If a diabetic does not listen to doctors but continues to smoke, neglects the need for physical activity, and experiences constant stress, then the likelihood of death increases.
If a diabetic has died of a heart attack, then that is the reason that will be stated in the medical examination. Not a word about diabetes.
Mortality prevention
You can prevent the development of the described problems if you carefully monitor your condition and regularly monitor the concentration of sugar in the blood and acetone in the urine.
For example, death from hypoglycemia most often occurs with alcohol. Uncooled patients rarely notice signs of low sugar. As a result, they fall into a coma and die.
However, with constant monitoring, it is quite possible to prevent ketoacidosis. With a slight increase in the number of ketone bodies, a person feels weak.
To prevent ketoacidosis, sugar should be controlled and acetone in the urine checked periodically using special strips. If the condition worsens, consult your doctor to prescribe maintenance therapy.
If renal failure has developed on the background of diabetes, then the patient needs dialysis. Failure to follow this procedure is fatal. You can save yourself by donating a donor's kidney.
It is not always possible to diagnose nephropathy in time: the symptoms of the disease appear only in the late stages.
One of the causes of death from diabetes is neuropathy. His progress is evidenced by:
- feeling of limb stiffness;
- "Pinching" in the fingers;
- colic
- muscle weakness;
- enuresis;
- Dizziness
- muscle pain.
The spinal cord controls all movements, but due to high sugar, the peripheral nervous system is disturbed. Failures in the functioning of muscles and organs begin: this increases the probability of death by 4 times.
Hyperosmolar coma is a fairly rare diagnosis. In patients, speech is impaired, convulsions occur, and muscle paralysis occurs. During dehydration, a hyperosmolar coma develops. Timely medical care can save the patient.
Other causes of death
Chronic complications of diabetes are also considered life-threatening:
Abdominal pain may be a symptom of ketoacidosis.
- Ketoacidosis - progresses on the background of complete or partial lack of insulin. The process of developing a ketoacidosis condition lasts from a few days to weeks, a few hours with great intoxication, the symptoms appear gradually, and they are disturbing:
- Weakness, tinnitus, acetone odor, nausea, abdominal pain.
- Loss of appetite, vision, heart pain, shortness of breath, brown tongue.
- The patient falls into a coma.
- Lactic acidosis is a rare and most severe form of complication. It progresses suddenly in the background of a state of shock, severe intoxication, heart or kidney failure. It is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- hangover
- state of delirium;
- nausea
- pale skin;
- muscle pain;
- heart rate;
- loss of consciousness.
ketoacidosis
A steady increase in glucose levels that lasts for a long time can lead to accumulation in the brain and other parts of the body of products of fatty oxidation - acetone and ketone bodies. This condition is known in medicine as diabetic ketoacidosis.
Ketoacidosis is very dangerous, ketones are too toxic for the human brain. Today, doctors have learned to deal effectively with this manifestation. By using the available means of self-control, you can independently prevent this condition.
Prevention of ketoacidosis consists of regular measurement of blood glucose levels and periodic checking of urine for acetone using test strips. Each person must draw the appropriate conclusions for themselves. After all, diabetes is easier to prevent than to fight its complications all your life.
Can a person die from diabetes, the leading cause of death
Diabetes mellitus is the most common endocrine disease. This is a deadly disease.
Today, the pathology is successfully treated, it cannot be claimed that a patient diagnosed with diabetes is sentenced to death.
However, doctors say you can die of diabetes. Many consequences of the disease result in death, especially in the absence of treatment.
List of complications
If you react to the change in condition in time and start treatment, you can avoid irreversible damage to internal organs. Otherwise, the process of destroying the body will be difficult to reverse.
At the same time, harmful substances accumulate in it. These are acetone and ketone bodies, which negatively affect the brain. Therefore, diabetics are advised to carefully monitor their sugar levels.
Complications can be chronic and acute.
Different types of diabetes can cause different types of complications.
With type 1 disease, insulin is produced, but in insufficient quantities. There are times when the body simply does not “recognize” its insulin.
Due to this, extremely dangerous conditions develop:
- nephropathy This is a kidney lesion in which the organs can no longer do their job normally. If not diagnosed in time, the patient may die.
- Cataract or complete loss of vision.
- Angina pectoris, heart attack, coronary heart disease.
- Stomatitis and periodontal disease.
Type 2 diabetes can cause more serious complications:
- Disrupted cellular metabolism results in the buildup of ketone bodies, leading to ketoacidosis, one of the most critical conditions for diabetics.
- The process of transmitting nerve impulses is disrupted, resulting in the atrophy of muscle tissue.
- Changes in the eye’s veins make it impossible for a person to see it.
- Renal failure develops. The patient increasingly needs hemodialysis (purification of the blood without the involvement of the kidneys). In the most severe cases, an organ transplant may be needed.
- Immunity is weakened. Therefore, diabetics are more likely to catch colds, flu, SARS, acute respiratory viral infections, pneumonia, bronchitis, etc. than other colds.
About late conditions
The presented category of complications occurs during several years of disease development. The criticality of such consequences is that they gradually worsen the general condition of the patient.
At the same time, even proper treatment can in no way always be a guarantee of protecting the body from them. Therefore, such diseases deserve special attention not only from experts but also from the diabetic himself.
This most commonly occurs when another type of diabetes is formed, however, in general, for patients with 20 or more years of experience, the risk of such pathology approaches 100%. Over time, retinal damage leads to complete loss of vision.
Furthermore, experts pay attention to angiopathy, which forms quite quickly (compared to other late consequences). Angiopathies are characterized by a violation of the degree of vascular permeability, which over time turns out thinner and more fragile
The natural physiological response to this is a tendency to form blood clots and atherosclerosis, which is almost impossible to cure. Sometimes diabetes leads to this during pregnancy.
No less difficult is polyneuropathy. It is characterized by the loss of the optimal degree of sensitivity of the feet and lower extremities as a whole. As the disease progresses, the person ceases to feel touch and warmth.
It can manifest synchronously in the region of the upper and lower extremities. Sometimes children encounter this, it probably also occurs in pregnant women.
The primary symptoms are numbness and burning in the area of the legs or arms, which is much more intense during the night. Such a reduced degree of sensitivity causes the creation of a significant number of injuries, injuries, and other more serious injuries that have a high risk of sustaining human life.
Diabetic foot is another consequence of diabetes
This is often affected by increased sugar during pregnancy, but I would like to pay attention to the following features:
the formation of ulcers, purulent abscesses, and even necrotic, namely dying, areas is characteristic; Given this, diabetics should pay special attention to personal hygiene and the condition of the lower extremities.
It is very correct to choose shoes - at least so as not to crush your feet; It is recommended to use special socks without tires that tighten the legs too much.
You can die from diabetic foot if you do not treat it completely. The development of gangrene can begin, which will lead to blood poisoning, which is why quite often diabetics, especially those of old age, face the need to amputate limbs. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to treat diabetes and monitor the condition of the extremities, skin, and other structures.
To understand how death from diabetes occurs, you can, if you identify the main causes of death.
Death in patients occurs not only as a result of a heart attack. Other pathologies of the vascular and cardiac muscles also lead to death:
- atherosclerotic lesion of cerebral vessels;
- hypertension, in which pressure rises are very intense;
- reduced blood flow in the brain's vessels.
Today, diabetes is the third most deadly population in the world. Untimely examinations, non-compliance with the doctor's recommendations, a pleasant attitude towards one's health, plus a frantic rhythm of life with the inability to relax and unwillingness to lead a healthy lifestyle - all this together affects the quality of health. It affects life expectancy.
Complications lead to death, without which diabetics have their own progression and damage to all organ systems. Complications are caused by elevated glucose levels that cause intoxication in the body of diabetics. The whole organism is poisoned by the accumulation of toxic substances in it.
Due to intoxication, numerous disorders of bodily functions develop. In diabetes, the body accumulates acetone and ketones, which are very toxic to the brain (ketoacidosis). Mortality from ketoacidosis will not be real with good self-control and timely treatment.
Maintaining normal glucose levels is a major goal for diabetics. Diabetes used to be an incurable fatal disease. You can fight it today. The main thing is the timely diagnosis and identification of all side effects and complications because it is the complications of diabetes that lead to the death of the patient.
When a diabetic has high blood sugar, complications develop faster. In type 1 diabetes, the main complications are expressed in the peripheral nervous and vascular system lesions in the kidneys, eyes, and legs.
The most common complications of type 1 diabetes:
• Nephropathy: the most dangerous consequence of kidney damage. At an advanced stage it can cause the death of the patient;
• complete loss of vision, cataracts;
• myocardial infarction, ischemia, angina pectoris. Deaths are common; • diseases of the oral cavity (stomatitis, periodontal disease).
When insulin is produced in the body but in insufficient amounts, or the body does not recognize its insulin and glucose accumulates in the blood, as with type 2 diabetes, complications also occur.
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