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Some experts call LADA diabetes a slowly progressive form of the described endocrine pathology. Another alternative name is 1.5, that is, an intermediate form between types 1 and 2 of the disease.

The presented concept is easily explained, because the complete “dying” of the insular apparatus after 35 years is a slow process. In this regard, the symptoms of sugar disease strongly resemble the non-insulin-dependent form of the disease.

In order to understand what LADA diabetes is, it should be taken into account that the autoimmune form of the pathology provokes the death of beta cells of the pancreas. In this regard, the production of its own hormonal component will sooner or later be completely completed.

While insulin will be the only method of treating the disease in an adult. The varieties of the LADA type and the reasons for their formation deserve attention.

Among the types of diabetes already known to many, in addition to types 1 and 2, there are several little known and, unfortunately, poorly studied diseases of the endocrine system - these are MODY and LADA diabetes.

We will talk about the second of them in this article. Let's find out:

• what are its main features
• what is the difference between Lada diabetes and other types of “sweet disease”
• what are its diagnostic criteria
• and what is its treatment?

What is LADA diabetes

This is a special type of diabetes, which is otherwise called autoimmune or latent.

Previously, it was called diabetes 1.5 (one and a half), since it occupies a kind of intermediate position between these two types of diseases and at the same time is very similar to them, but has its own significant differences.

LADA - Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults

As the name suggests, the main clue that distinguishes it from common type 2 diabetes mellitus is an autoimmune failure, in which the body's own immune system begins to attack the β-cells of the pancreas.

It is known that type II diabetes mellitus is based on increasing insulin resistance (tissue insensitivity to insulin) and compensatory temporarily increased insulin secretion with its subsequent depletion and an increase in blood sugar levels.

However, scientists could not understand why in some patients with type II diabetes, pancreas depletion and the need for insulin therapy occurs only after several decades, while in others (their number is much smaller) - after several years (from 6 months to 6 years).

We began to understand the patterns of type II diabetes. By this time, the important role of autoantibodies in the development of type I diabetes was already known (if you haven’t read it, I recommend that you read it).

C-peptide is a small protein residue that is cut by enzymes to convert the proinsulin molecule into insulin. The level of C-peptide is directly proportional to the level of your own insulin. The concentration of C-peptide can be used to assess the secretion of a patient's own insulin on insulin therapy.

C-peptide remains when insulin is formed from proinsulin.

Pathogenesis

The process of disease development can last from 1–2 years to decades. The mechanism of origin of the disease is ultimately similar to the insulin-dependent type of diabetes mellitus (type 1).

Autoimmune cells that have formed in the human body begin to destroy their own pancreas. At first, when the proportion of affected beta cells is small, diabetes mellitus occurs latently (hidden) and may not manifest itself.

With more significant destruction of the pancreas, the disease manifests itself similar to type 2 diabetes. At this stage, most often patients go to the doctor and an incorrect diagnosis is made.

And only eventually, when the pancreas is exhausted and its function is reduced to “0”, does it not produce insulin. Absolute insulin deficiency occurs and, therefore, manifests itself as type 1 diabetes. The picture of the disease will become more pronounced as the function of the gland becomes impaired.

Causes of the disease

As for the reasons that can affect the disease of latent diabetes mellitus, the main ones include the following:

1. age, of course - most patients suffering from this disease can be classified as elderly. Moreover, according to some estimates, more than 75% of people of this age suffer from hidden diabetes;
2. excess body weight, which is also quite obvious - after all, excess weight, as a rule, leads to improper nutrition, which disrupts the natural metabolism in the human body;
3. sometimes the cause may be a certain viral disease that affects the pancreas, which is responsible for producing insulin in the body.

Of course, a genetic predisposition to the disease cannot be ruled out, which has not yet been well studied, but may well turn out to be a key factor. Finally, latent diabetes can also be caused by pregnancy, which is why women expecting a child must undergo an appropriate course of treatment and be under medical supervision throughout the entire period.

Etiology

Doctors could not figure out why in some patients the extinction of the functions of the pancreas to produce insulin occurred after six months, and in others - after tens of years. After conducting research, it was found that patients who had antibodies and low secretion of C-peptide had diabetes mellitus not of the second, but of the first type. Such patients needed insulin much earlier.

Instead, doctors diagnosed type 2 diabetes, although in fact it was diabetes. Patients were treated with sulfonylureas. This treatment led to rapid depletion of the pancreas and significantly aggravated the patient’s condition.

Lada diabetes is not so rare:

• it is diagnosed in 10% of cases of type 1 diabetes;
• in 15% of cases type 2 diabetes;
• in 50% of cases, type 2 diabetes without signs of obesity.

Only through diagnosis can you accurately determine the type of disease and treat it correctly.

Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed in almost 90% of all patients; it develops due to insulin resistance, that is, the lack of sensitivity of cells to insulin.

With fret type 2, over time it passes into a more severe stage - type 1.

Without insulin therapy, sugar levels rise and pancreatic cells become depleted.

Differences between LADA diabetes and other forms of the disease

How does LADA diabetes differ from other types of diabetes? This type is a latent form of type 1 diabetes, occurring according to the scenario of type 2 disease.

With LADA, complete destruction of pancreatic cells occurs as a result of exposure to antibodies produced by the body's immune system.

That is, the mechanism of metabolic failure is similar to the insulin-dependent type of disease. But disturbances are already detected in adults, which is more typical for type 2 diabetes.

A complete cessation of natural insulin production occurs within a short period of time from the onset of the disease. After 1-3 years, all beta cells responsible for the production of the hormone die.

Due to the lack of the hormone, glucose accumulates, which leads to hyperglycemia, and the body compensates for the lack of energy by breaking down fat cells, resulting in ketoacidosis.

Clinical picture of Lada diabetes

As for symptoms, they can vary significantly. As medical practice shows, in the vast majority of cases, Lada disease occurs without a pronounced clinical picture.

Since the pathology progresses slowly, a person can live with the disease for years without suspecting that he has a specific type of diabetes.

However, if the patient exhibits symptoms of the disease, then most often they are characterized by the same clinical picture as diabetes mellitus of the first and second types.

The symptoms of Lada diabetes are as follows:

• Constant weakness and apathy, chronic fatigue.
• Dizziness, tremors of limbs.
• The skin becomes pale.
• Body temperature increases (rarely).
• High blood sugar concentration.
• Copious and frequent urination.
• Sudden weight loss for no reason.

If a person has ketoacidosis, then in addition to the symptoms listed above, other symptoms are added: dry mouth, attacks of nausea and vomiting, severe and constant thirst, the tongue is coated.

It should be remembered that a person’s symptoms may or may not clearly indicate pathology.

What is LADA diabetes. Subtypes of diabetes mellitus type I

According to the classification, diabetes mellitus is divided into the following main types:

Recognition at early stages of development

Lada diabetes occurs latently, that is, hidden. Beginning to develop, it still gives a person a chance for recovery, or at least for a “delay.”

Diagnosing the disease is not difficult. Firstly, it is an increase in blood sugar levels. Secondly, this is a normal weight with all the signs of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. That is, if the doctor determines that his patient has all the symptoms of type 2 diabetes, but is thin, the doctor will be able to make a preliminary diagnosis - LADA.

To confirm, the laboratory conducts additional testing of the patient’s blood and performs a number of special tests.

The following may also be a reason to suspect this type of diabetes:

• Age when the disease manifested itself – over 35 years;
• Over time, the disease developed into an insulin-dependent form.

The doctor may assume that this is LADA if there is a history of diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune gastritis, bullous dermatoses and other autoimmune diseases.

Symptoms

Basically, the signs indicating the development of latent diabetes mellitus are not too obvious, but you should pay attention to the following points: firstly, sudden weight gain or, conversely, weight loss.

Secondly, symptoms may include dry skin (even itching), constant thirst, excessive urination, and weakness or malaise. In general, we can say that the symptoms of diabetes are quite similar to those of type 2 diabetes, only in a mild form.

However, if latent diabetes is detected in time and the necessary measures are taken, the development of the disease can be avoided.

Endocrinologists identify a specific scale that includes five criteria and allows one to determine latent diabetes. The first specific manifestation should be considered before age 50 years.

It is also worth paying attention to the acute onset of the disease, namely an increased amount of urine (more than two liters per day), thirst, and weight loss. Signs and symptoms may include weakness and loss of strength.

It’s not for nothing that this type is called intermediate or one and a half (1.5). At the beginning of its manifestation, LADA diabetes clinically resembles type 2, and then manifests itself as type 1 diabetes:

• polyuria (frequent urination);
• polydipsia (unquenchable thirst, a person is able to drink up to 5 liters of water per day);
• weight loss (the only symptom that is not typical for type 2 diabetes, which means its presence makes one suspect LADA diabetes);
• weakness, high fatigue, decreased performance;
• insomnia;
• dry skin;
• skin itching;
• frequent relapse of fungal and pustular infections (often in females - candidiasis);
• long-term non-healing of the wound surface.

Diabetes mellitus of the Lada type may not present symptoms from several months to several years. Signs of pathology appear gradually. Changes in the body that should alert you are:

• polydipsia (constant thirst);
• pollakiuria (frequent urge to empty the bladder);
• dysania (sleep disorder), decreased performance;
• weight loss (without dieting or sports) due to polyphagia (increased appetite);
• long-term healing of mechanical damage to the skin;
• psycho-emotional instability.

Such symptoms rarely force potential diabetics to seek medical help. Deviations in plasma glucose levels are detected accidentally during medical examination or in connection with another disease.

In this case, detailed diagnostics are not carried out, and the patient is mistakenly diagnosed with non-insulin-dependent diabetes, while his body requires strictly dosed administration of insulin.

Important! If there is no effect or the condition worsens from erroneously prescribed pills to lower sugar, it is necessary to undergo special diagnostics.

LADA diabetes has the following clinical manifestations:

• polyuria, diuresis;
• disturbance of mineral metabolism;
• coating on the tongue, dry mouth;
• weakness, lethargy, fatigue;
• strong and frequent thirst;
• hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia;
• nausea, vomiting;
• pallor, body trembling, tremor;
• increased appetite, polydipsia;
• exacerbation of other chronic and acute pathologies;
• increased body temperature, chills;
• dizziness, dyslipidemia;
• specific smell of acetone from the mouth;
• sudden, causeless weight loss;
• ketoacidosis coma;
• decompensation of carbohydrate metabolism.

A high likelihood of developing this disease is observed in pregnant women with diagnosed gestational diabetes. On average, 25% of all such girls develop pathology into type 1.5. This happens immediately after childbirth or after some time.

It is also known that LADA diabetes mellitus is diagnosed in people aged 35 to 65 years, but the peak occurs between 45-55 years.

To clarify the diagnosis, laboratory tests are carried out to determine:

• The level of C-peptide is a secondary product of insulin biosynthesis.
• Anti-GAD levels are antibodies to the enzyme involved in the formation of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid).
• Level of ICA - antibodies to pancreatic islet cells.

Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults is asymptomatic or manifests itself with signs of type 2 diabetes. However, prediabetes refers to type 1 diabetes, which develops in a mild form. Typical symptoms for this condition are:

• Chronic fatigue;
• Depression;
• Constant feeling of hunger.

As LADA diabetes progresses, the pancreas's ability to produce insulin will gradually decrease, which can lead to symptoms such as:

• Bleeding gums, loosening of teeth, destruction of tooth enamel;
• Polydipsia (excessive thirst, dry mouth);
• Itching and peeling of the skin;
• The appearance of skin rashes;
• Sexual dysfunction in men;
• Polyuria (the urge to urinate frequently);
• Deterioration of vision;
• Loss of sensitivity of the skin, numbness of the limbs;
• Increased blood glucose levels (up to 5.6–6.2 mmol/l).

It is important to identify symptoms early in the disease because diagnosing LADA diabetes at a later stage increases the risk of developing diabetes complications.

The symptoms of latent diabetes are in many ways similar to the clinical picture observed with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, when making a diagnosis and choosing therapy, it is necessary to pay attention to the signs inherent specifically in the latent form of the disease:

1. Thin build;
2. The presence of antibodies to β-cells in the blood, indicating that the pancreas is under attack from the immune system;
3. Progressive β-cell failure;
4. A low level of C-peptide in the blood (less than 0.6 nmol/l), indicating insulin deficiency.

Diagnostics

If an increased glucose concentration is detected, the patient should contact an endocrinologist to prescribe further examinations, make a diagnosis and develop a course of therapy. It is not recommended to try to find out the type of disease on your own using available diagnostic methods, since only a specialist who knows the diagnostic criteria will be able to accurately recognize the type of pathology.

Diagnosis of LADA is carried out based on the results of tests:

• blood biochemistry;
• blood test for glucose;
• General clinical analysis of blood and urine.

To identify clinical manifestations in a patient indicating latent diabetes mellitus, standard methods are used: blood glucose level, glycated hemoglobin ratio. Speaking about this, pay attention to:

• analysis and disassembly of autoantibodies to specific ISA islet cells;
• HLA antigen testing;
• conducting research on autoantibodies to medications with hormonal components;
• checking genetic markers;
• standard autoantibodies to glutamate decarboxylase GAD.

It is important to understand that the result of diagnosing the disease must be as accurate as possible; treatment depends on this. An incorrect diagnosis, which means irrational treatment, will stimulate the rapid progression of the disease.

Important! Since LADA diabetes is difficult to diagnose at the beginning, it is often confused with type 2 diabetes. It can be suspected at an early stage if the C-peptide level is reduced.

This suggests that the pancreas secretes little insulin, unlike type 2 diabetes, when C-peptide may be normal or even slightly increased, and there is insulin resistance.

Often, this disease is not recognized, but is mistaken for type 2 diabetes mellitus and secretagogues are prescribed - drugs that increase the secretion of insulin by the pancreas. With this treatment, the disease will rapidly gain momentum.

Since increased secretion of insulin will quickly deplete the reserves of the pancreas and a state of absolute insulin deficiency will quickly occur. Correct diagnosis is the key to successfully controlling the course of the disease.

How is the Lada variety identified, and how to distinguish it from another type of diabetes, what criteria exist?

As medical practice shows, if a patient has normal body weight and is not obese, then most often he is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. However, in reality, it may also have a specific variety.

To treat type 2 diabetes mellitus, medications are often recommended to reduce glucose concentrations in the body. But they are extremely harmful for people who have latent autoimmune diabetes.

Therefore, in order to accurately establish a diagnosis, in addition to studying glycated hemoglobin and blood tests for sugar, the doctor prescribes the following diagnostic methods:

1. Analysis of antibodies to ICA.
2. Determination of antigens
3. Genetic markers are being studied.
4. Determination of antibodies to GAD.

The following parameters are deviations from the norm. Firstly, if the patient is under 35 years old. Secondly, there is dependence on insulin after a short period of time (about a couple of years).

Thirdly, the clinical picture is similar to type 2 diabetes, but the patient’s weight is within normal limits, or the patient is of a thin build.

If Lada is suspected of having a disease, diagnosing it is not difficult. There are many diagnostic measures that help establish the correct diagnosis in patients.

Test results obtained in laboratory conditions help the treating doctor choose truly effective treatment options and increase the period of production of one’s own hormones.

Diabetes mellitus of one and a half type requires timely diagnosis and differentiation from other types of this disease. Otherwise, with incorrect treatment, the disease begins to progress very quickly, leading to irreversible and serious consequences. Diagnostic methods include:

• taking anamnesis;
• prednisolone glucose tolerance test;
• detection of HLA antigens;
• visual inspection;
• detection of C-peptide level;
• determination of glucose levels in blood and urine;
• determination of autoantibody response to insulin therapy;
• physical examination;
• determination of the presence of autoantibodies to glutamate decarboxylase GAD;
• general, biochemical laboratory tests of blood and urine;
• determination of genetic markers;
• Staub-Traugott test;
• definition glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c);
• analysis and study of autoantibodies to ISA cells (islet cells);
• detection of antibodies to glutamate decarboxylase.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus, if it has not been determined that it is latent autoimmune diabetes, is treated with standard methods, namely:

• moderate physical activity;
• low carbohydrate diet;
• sulfonylurea tablets, which lower blood sugar levels.

Sulfonylurea drugs cause pancreatic cells to work harder. The stronger they function in autoimmune diabetes, the faster they are destroyed. For diabetes, a completely different treatment is needed, namely insulin therapy.

To confirm the presence of latent diabetes mellitus, I use two diagnostic methods:

1. Detection of antibodies to glutamate decarboxylase (anti-GAD).
2. Determination of the level of C-peptides.

How are the results deciphered?

When choosing the first diagnostic method, there are two indicators of test results: positive or negative. If you have type 1.5 diabetes, the result should be positive. If the result is negative, then this indicates a lack of harmony.

Upon confirmation of the problem, an additional test for antibodies to islet beta cells may be prescribed. This is necessary to predict the development of diabetes and identify its severe forms. As the disease progresses, anti-GAD and ICA will be detected simultaneously.

As for the second diagnostic method, in the presence of Lada, as well as type 1 diabetes, the indicators will be below normal (less than 0.6 nmol/l).

In type 2, C-peptides are not reduced. After all, the pancreas actively produces insulin, and C-peptides are products of insulin biosynthesis, their amount is directly proportional to the level of insulin produced.

Additional events:

1. If the problem is confirmed, an additional test with prednisolone is also performed. This is how they check glucose tolerance.
2. Instead, the Staub-Traugott test may be used. This test detects blood sugar. First, the analysis is carried out on an empty stomach, and then the patient is given tea with dextropur to drink and sugar is measured again. A strong increase in indicators indicates Lada diabetes.

If, after undergoing the diagnosis, anti-GAD is absent, then the presence of type 1.5 diabetes mellitus is excluded. The diagnosis of Lada is made when antibodies are present simultaneously with low levels of C-peptides.

If, after diagnosis using several methods, one test gives a positive result and the second one gives a negative result, then additional examination is needed.

In this case, it is necessary to examine the patient for the presence of genetic markers of type 1 diabetes.

Diagnosis of type 1.5 diabetes mellitus is difficult. It is carried out only in some laboratories and only when there is suspicion of an incorrect diagnosis.

To identify a latent form of the disease, the following laboratory tests are used:

• Glucose tolerance load (prednisone-glucose test) is performed on an empty stomach. 3 days before the scheduled examination, it is necessary to include carbohydrate-containing foods in the diet (carbohydrate content should not be less than 250-300 g). At the same time, it is important to ensure that the fats and proteins consumed correspond to the norm. On the day of testing, 2 hours before the glucose load, 12.5 mg of prednisolone (prednisone) is infused, after which the level of functioning β-cells is determined. We can talk about the latent course of the disease if hyperglycemia is detected, when the result immediately after a glucose load corresponds to 5.2 mmol/l, and 2 hours after it – more than 7 mmol/l.
• The Staub-Traugott test is also performed on an empty stomach. This method involves a double glucose load, when oral glucose is administered twice (50 g at a time) with an interval of 1 hour. In healthy people, a jump in glycemia occurs only after the first load. The second load will not produce significant changes in glycemia. Detecting an increase in blood sugar after both doses of glucose indicates a latent form of diabetes.

Treatment options

For a favorable prognosis for patients with LADA, correct diagnosis and competent therapy are very important. However, it often happens that treatment is prescribed similar to the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, for example, it is recommended to take sulfonylurea drugs and Metformin.

Such prescriptions lead to even greater destruction of pancreatic cells, which is unacceptable for this type of disease.

The first thing to remember is that getting rid of hidden diabetes is not something overwhelming - quite the contrary. First of all, you need to pay attention to your weight and, if necessary, bring it back to normal: this is facilitated by active physical activity on the body, because muscles, as is known, absorb tens of times more glucose during stress.

As a rule, doctors recommend, at a minimum, long walking or running, as well as swimming or cycling. However, you don’t have to limit your imagination, and physical exercises include cleaning the house or refusing to use the elevator at home or at work.

There are also medications that help fight latent diabetes - for example, Metformin or Acarbose, but their use can only achieve results if taken continuously over several years.

In addition, some herbs or plants can be included in the method of combating hidden diabetes, such as flax seeds, dried green beans or dandelion roots.

In order for treatment to be effective, it is recommended to switch to a low-carbohydrate diet, which is the leading means of controlling the disease.

Without following such a diet, all other activities will not be effective.

The next step is to study the specifics of insulin use. It is necessary to learn everything about the extended types of hormonal component (Lantus, Levemir and others), as well as about calculating the dosage of the rapid composition before eating.

It is necessary to inject prolonged insulin at a minimum rate, even if, due to a low-carbohydrate diet, the sugar level does not reach 5.5–6 mmol on an empty stomach and after eating food.

When talking about how to treat autoimmune diabetes in adults, pay attention to the fact that:

• dosages of the hormonal component should be low;
• It is advisable to use Levemir because it can be diluted, while Lantus cannot;
• Extended-type insulin is used even if sugar on an empty stomach and after meals does not increase more than 5.5–6 mmol;
• It is important to monitor your blood glucose ratio over a 24-hour period. It is determined in the morning on an empty stomach, every time before a meal, as well as two hours after meals and at night before going to bed;
• Once a week it is necessary to carry out such a diagnosis in the middle of the night.

It is recommended to treat LADA diabetes depending on sugar levels, namely to increase or decrease the amount of extended-release insulin. In the most difficult cases, it may require its administration two to four times a day.

If, despite the use of extended-release insulin injections, glucose remains elevated after a meal, experts insist on using fast insulin before meals.

The LADA diabetes treatment algorithm implies the following:

• Low carbohydrate diet. This is a fundamental factor in the treatment of any type of diabetes, including LADA type. Without following a diet, the role of other activities is in vain.
• Moderate physical activity. Even if you are not obese, physical activity helps to utilize excess glucose in the body, therefore, it is important to give your body a load.
• Insulin therapy. It is the main treatment method for LADA diabetes. A basal-bolus therapy regimen is used. This means that you need to inject “long” insulin (1 or 2 times a day, depending on the drug), which ensures the background level of insulin. And also, before each meal, inject “short” insulin, which maintains normal blood glucose levels after meals.

Treatment of the disease is based on the use of medications, diet, and moderate physical activity.

Insulin therapy

The main drug treatment consists of selecting adequate doses of insulin corresponding to the stage of the disease, the presence of concomitant pathologies, the weight and age of the patient. Early use of insulin therapy helps stabilize sugar levels, not overload pancreatic cells (they are quickly destroyed during intensive work), stop autoimmune processes, and maintain residual insulin productivity.

When the gland maintains reserves, it is easier for the patient to maintain consistently normal blood glucose levels. In addition, such a “reserve” allows you to delay the development of diabetic complications and reduces the risk of a sharp drop in sugar (hypoglycemia). Early prescription of insulin drugs is the only correct tactics for managing the disease.

According to medical research, early insulin therapy for Lada diabetes gives a chance to restore the pancreas to produce its own insulin, albeit in small quantities. The treatment regimen, choice of drugs and their dosage are determined only by an endocrinologist.

Self-medication is unacceptable. Hormone doses at the initial stage of treatment are reduced as much as possible.

Combination therapy with short-acting and long-acting insulins is prescribed.

Diet therapy

In addition to drug treatment, the patient must follow a diabetic diet. Nutrition is based on the therapeutic diet “Table No. 9” according to the classification of Professor V.

Pevzner. The main emphasis in the daily menu is on vegetables, fruits, cereals and legumes with a low glycemic index (GI).

GI represents the rate of breakdown of food entering the body, the release of glucose, and its resorption (absorption) into the systemic bloodstream. Thus, the higher the GI, the faster glucose enters the blood and the sugar levels “jump.”

Brief table of foods with glycemic index

The consumption of simple fast carbohydrates is strictly prohibited: confectionery desserts, milk chocolate and sweets, puff pastries, butter pastries, shortbread dough, ice cream, marshmallows, preserves, jams, packaged juices and bottled tea. If you do not change your eating behavior, treatment will not give positive results.

Physical training

Another important method of normalizing sugar levels is rational physical activity on a regular basis. Sports activity increases glucose tolerance because cells are enriched with oxygen during exercise.

Therapy is primarily aimed at preserving the ability of pancreatic beta cells to produce insulin. To do this, you need to lead a healthy lifestyle, follow a low-carbohydrate diet, and engage in special physical exercises.

You should also take small doses of insulin regularly. You should regularly monitor glucose levels in the body, normalize weight if necessary, do not self-medicate, regularly see an endocrinologist and give up bad habits.

These measures are necessary for a favorable prognosis of the course of the disease and the preservation of a high-quality and fulfilling life until old age.

Since the disease can be called indolent, treatment should be started as quickly as possible to prevent a complete cessation of insulin production by the pancreas.

Insulin injections will help prevent the immune system from attacking the pancreas. Immediately after the diagnosis is clarified, they are prescribed to all patients, but in small doses. Throughout the day, a person should monitor their blood sugar levels and record the readings.

It is important to follow a low carbohydrate diet. Under no circumstances should you consume sugar in its pure form or products containing it. Proper nutrition can play a major role here, because thanks to it, the pathology may soon recede.

A moderately active lifestyle will help patients strengthen their immunity. Exercise and walks in the fresh air will have a beneficial effect on all systems of the human body, so this point cannot be ignored.

Lada diabetes will go away like a bad dream if you follow all the instructions and advice of your endocrinologist. A special diet will allow you to administer insulin in minimal quantities, and this drug, in turn, will make it possible to try to preserve beta cells, or rather, their functionality. Treatment must be carried out adequately and planned - this is the only way to cope with type 1.5 diabetes.

Latent diabetes in the early stages is treatable. Without treatment, within a few years the disease will become chronic, which significantly worsens the quality of life and its duration.

By attacking the pancreas, the immune system destroys β-cells, which are responsible for producing insulin. After the complete elimination of β-cells, the natural production of insulin stops, blood sugar rises to prohibitive levels, which forces the patient to artificially administer the hormone.

However, injections are not able to completely equalize blood glucose levels, which causes complications. To avoid this, it is necessary to preserve the natural production of insulin by β-cells.

Therefore, if prediabetes is detected, it is necessary to immediately begin injecting the hormone in small doses.

Thus, the treatment course for latent diabetes is structured according to the following scheme:

1. Insulin therapy, which is aimed at stopping the development of the disease.
2. A low-carbohydrate diet that requires the patient to completely abstain from simple carbohydrates (sweets, baked goods).
3. Therapeutic 30-minute physical exercise aimed at lowering blood sugar (swimming, walking, cycling).
4. Drug therapy – long-term use of drugs (Acarbose, Metformin) to completely cure the disease.

Therapy as a way to eliminate pathology

LADA diabetes progresses slowly and can remain undetected for a long time. Therefore, treatment must be started as soon as it is detected, in order to avoid a complete cessation of insulin production by the pancreas, since immune bodies attack and lead to the death of the gland cells.

In order to prevent this, insulin injections are immediately prescribed. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, it is prescribed in small doses to all patients.

Insulin protects the pancreas from destruction of its cells by the autoimmune system. The main goal of therapy is to preserve the natural production of insulin in the pancreas.

Treatment must be comprehensive. It is important to monitor the intake of simple carbohydrates into the body and count bread units, for which special tables are provided. A bread unit is a specific measure of carbohydrates. Treatment involves consuming a low-carbohydrate diet; pure sugar is permanently removed from the diet.

In addition, treatment is to slow down autoimmune inflammation due to the slow activity of autoantigens. And, of course, maintaining normal blood sugar. For this purpose, patients are prescribed special sugar-containing medications.

It is important to remember that in case of LADA diabetes, sulfonylurea derivatives and glinides should not be taken; Siofor and Glucophage are prescribed only to obese patients, which is observed in type 2 diabetes, but not in LADA diabetes.

If long-acting insulin does not cope with the reduction of sugar, then you can “pin up” fast-type insulin before meals.

In addition to therapy, an active lifestyle, sports or fitness, hirudotherapy and physical therapy are recommended. Traditional medicine is also applicable in the treatment of autoimmune diabetes, but only in consultation with the attending physician.

Lada diabetes has a favorable outcome if diagnosed early and treated in a timely manner. It is very important to follow all the instructions and recommendations of your endocrinologist and lead an active lifestyle. If you strictly follow the diet, you will need insulin in very small doses. And only then can you be completely cured of this disease.

Unfortunately, for Lada patients with diabetes, the administration of insulin is almost inevitable. Doctors give recommendations that imply starting insulin therapy immediately. With an accurate diagnosis of this pathology, treatment tactics are based precisely on this principle of treatment.

People suffering from Lada pathology need early detection of the disease and early administration of appropriate therapy, in particular the administration of insulin.

This circumstance is based on the fact that there is a high probability of lack of synthesis of its own hormone in the body. In addition, hormone deficiency is often associated with cell insensitivity to insulin.

No new methods have been invented to treat an incompletely studied type of diabetes. In this regard, doctors recommend including tablets to lower sugar in the treatment process, as well as drugs to increase the sensitivity of soft tissues to the hormone.

The main goals of drug therapy:

• Reducing the load on the pancreas.
• Inhibition of autoimmune processes in the body.
• Normalization of blood sugar to an acceptable level.

When Lada disease is diagnosed, the doctor prescribes insulin therapy in a low dosage. If this stage is skipped, or the doctor does not recognize the specific ailment, then over time you will have to administer extremely high doses of the hormone.

The main principles of therapy for Lada diabetes:

1. Compliance low carb diet.
2. Administration of insulin in small doses.
3. Blood sugar control.
4. Optimal physical activity.

Fasting glucose targets should not exceed the acceptable limit of 5.5 units. In addition, sugar should not fall below 3.8 units.

It is permissible to combine drug therapy and alternative treatment, but only with the permission of the treating doctor. Herbs that lower blood sugar will help improve the patient’s condition and prevent complications.

What do you think about this? How did you treat LADA diabetes mellitus in your case? Share your comments and opinions to enrich the review!

Complications of the disease

The consequences and severity of their manifestations depend on the length of diabetes. The main complications of the LADA type, as well as others, include:

• diseases of the cardiovascular system (coronary heart disease, heart attack, stroke, vascular atherosclerosis);
• diseases of the nervous system (polyneuropathy, numbness, paresis, stiffness in movements, inability to control movements in the limbs);
• diseases of the eyeball (changes in the blood vessels of the fundus, retinopathy, blurred vision, blindness);
• kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy, increased protein excretion in the urine);
• diabetic foot (ulcerative-necrotic defects of the lower extremities, gangrene);
• recurrent skin infections and pustular lesions.

In diabetes mellitus, there is a constantly increased level of glucose in the body. If a sick person learns to competently monitor his well-being, keeping sugar at a normal level, then diabetes will turn from a serious illness into a special way of life that will not pose a threat.

There are several types of diabetes mellitus, which are closely related to metabolic disorders in the body of a sick person. Each type of disease, in addition to hyperglycemia, manifests itself by producing glucose in the urine. Against this background, the following symptoms may occur:

1. thirst begins to increase quite significantly;
2. appetite increases rapidly;
3. there is an imbalance of fat metabolism in the form of hyperlipidemia, as well as dyslipidemia;
4. mineral metabolism in the body is disrupted;
5. complications of other ailments begin.

A significant increase in the number of patients with diabetes mellitus has necessitated the identification of various types of this disease in order to clearly understand the difference between one condition and another.

If until recently medicine believed that only people over 45 years of age could suffer from type 2 diabetes, today the age limit for this disease has been shifted to 35.

Every year, type 2 diabetes is diagnosed in younger patients, which is associated with poor nutrition and poor lifestyle choices.

Main classification of the disease

Modern medicine identifies several main types of diabetes, which can affect people regardless of their age:

• Type I diabetes is insulin dependent. It is formed in the human body against the background of a decrease in the amount of this hormone. It typically occurs in young children, adolescents, and young adults. With this disease, it is important to inject yourself with a certain dose of insulin daily;
• Type II disease is independent of the hormone insulin and can develop even with an excessive amount of it in a person’s blood. The second type of diabetes is typical for people over 40 years of age and develops against the background of weight gain. With this type of diabetes, health can be improved by making adjustments to diet, losing extra pounds, and increasing the intensity and intensity of physical activity. In medicine, such diabetes mellitus is usually divided into two subtypes. Subtype A develops against the background of excess body weight, and subtype B is typical for thin patients.

In addition to the main types of diabetes, there are also specific varieties:

1. LADA diabetes. It is characterized by some similarity with the disease of the first type, however, the speed of its progression is slow. If we talk about the final stages of LADA diabetes, then it can be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. At the moment, this name is outdated, and it has been replaced by the term autoimmune diabetes mellitus;
2. MODY diabetes is a type of class A disease, which is purely symptomatic and can develop against the background of problems with the pancreas, hemochromatosis, and cystic fibrosis;
3. drug-induced diabetes (class B diabetes);
4. diabetes mellitus class C, which occurs when the endocrine system is disrupted.

Differences between LADA diabetes and other forms of the disease

The term LADA diabetes itself was assigned to the latent form of autoimmune diabetes in adult patients. All those who fall into this category of patients, together with patients with the first type of disease, are in dire need of mandatory insulin therapy. As a rule, along with problems with sugar, pancreatic cells that produce insulin disintegrate in the body of patients. As a consequence of this, an autoimmune process occurs.

In medical practice, you can come across the opinion that LADA diabetes is sluggish, and sometimes it is also called diabetes “1.5”.

This pathological condition is characterized by the death of all cells of the insular apparatus when the patient reaches 35 years of age. The whole process occurs quite slowly and is similar to the course of type 2 diabetes.

The main difference is that in this case, absolutely all beta cells die, which causes the cessation of insulin secretion in the pancreas.

As a rule, complete dependence on additional insulin is formed within 1 to 3 years from the onset of the disease. It occurs with characteristic symptoms in both males and females.

The course of the disease is more suitable to the second type, because for quite a long time it is possible to control the course of the entire pathological process with the help of physical exercise and proper low-carbohydrate nutrition.

The relatively positive course of the disease makes it possible to think that diabetes will recede or its onset will be delayed indefinitely. The most important point in this case will be control of glycemic levels.

To raise awareness among patients, special diabetes schools are being created. Their main goal is to convey adequate and correct information to each individual patient that:

1. it is necessary to monitor glycemic levels;
2. There are ways to control sugar levels;
3. special behavior is provided in case of complications of diabetes.

How is LADA diabetes diagnosed?

To identify signs in a patient that would indicate LADA diabetes, it is necessary, in addition to all standard tests for blood glucose levels, as well as glycated hemoglobin, to apply the following practices:

• analysis and disassembly of autoantibodies to ISA cells (islet);
• HLA antigen testing;
• conducting a study of autoantibodies to drugs containing insulin;
• checking genetic markers;
• standard autoantibodies to glutamate decarboxylase GAD.

Deviations from the recognized norm for manifestations of this type such as LADA diabetes will be the following parameters:

1. the patient's age is less than 35 years;
2. establishment of insulin dependence after some time (several years);
3. manifestation of symptoms of the second type of diabetes with normal weight or even thinness;
4. Insulin deficiency is compensated with the help of special diets and physical therapy.

For modern medicine, diagnosing diabetes mellitus is not particularly difficult. For this purpose, there are a variety of diagnostic devices that help confirm the diagnosis in patients aged 25 to 50 years in cases where they have experienced classic symptoms.

Modern laboratory tests help the doctor to select truly effective treatment methods as accurately as possible and extend the period of production of the patient’s own hormones.

Pregnant women who have been confirmed to have gestational diabetes mellitus are at a potential risk of developing LADA diabetes. In most cases, these women are susceptible to developing diabetes after the end of their pregnancy or in the not very distant future. As a rule, the probability of such a course of the disease is noted in 25 percent of cases.

Treatment options

As noted, for patients diagnosed with LADA diabetes, mandatory insulin therapy is provided. Doctors recommend delaying injections. If LADA diabetes has been confirmed, then therapy will be based on this principle.

This category of patients needs the earliest possible detection of the disease and adequate prescription of medications, and insulin in particular. First of all, this is due to the high probability of lack of stimulated insulin production. Very often, insulin deficiency can be combined with resistance of body cells to this hormone if Lada diabetes is diagnosed.

In such situations, patients may be prescribed special medications to lower sugar in tablet format. Such drugs do not cause dryness of the pancreas, however, they increase the threshold of sensitivity of peripheral tissues to the hormone insulin.

In addition, medications that can be prescribed include biguanide derivatives (Metformin), as well as glitazones (Avandia), the full list can be found on our website.

Insulin therapy is extremely important for absolutely all patients suffering from LADA diabetes. In this case, prescribing insulin as early as possible will be aimed at rescuing natural basic insulin production for as long as possible.

Those patients who are carriers of LADA diabetes should be limited in the use of secretogens. These drugs are capable of stimulating the production of insulin and will lead to rapid depletion of the pancreas, and further to insulin deficiency in patients with the Lada type of diabetes.

It will be an excellent addition to therapy.

Latent or hidden diabetes– a disease affecting adults over 35 years of age. The danger of latent diabetes lies in the difficulty of diagnosis and incorrect treatment methods.

The scientific name of the disease is LADA (LADA or LADO), which stands for Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults.

The symptoms of LADA are deceptive, the disease is often confused with the diagnosis, which leads to a deterioration in the condition of patients, in rare cases to death.

In this article we will try to talk about what this diagnosis is and how you can identify a latent form of diabetes.

In standard type 2 diabetes, the patient's pancreas produces defective insulin, which leads to increased glucose levels in the blood and urine.

Another option is that peripheral tissues are not sensitive to natural insulin, even if its production is within normal limits. With LADA the situation is more complicated.

The organs do not produce the wrong insulin, but they also do not produce the correct one, or the production is reduced to very insignificant levels. Peripheral tissues do not lose sensitivity, resulting in depletion of beta cells.

A person with latent diabetes needs insulin injections just like diabetics suffering from

Symptoms

Due to the ongoing processes in the patient’s body, the following symptoms occur:

• Weakness and fatigue;
• Fever, dizziness, possible increase in body temperature;
• Increased blood glucose levels;
• Unreasonable weight loss;
• Extreme thirst and diuresis;
• The appearance of plaque on the tongue, acetone odor from the mouth;

LADA often occurs without any noticeable symptoms. There is no identified difference between male and female symptoms. However, the occurrence of LADA diabetes most often occurs in women during pregnancy or some time after childbirth. Women develop autoimmune diabetes at age 25, much earlier than men.

Changes in the functioning of the pancreas during insulin secretion are associated primarily with the ability to bear children.

How is it different from diabetes?

Lada diabetes is of autoimmune origin, its development is associated with damage to the pancreas, but the mechanisms of disease development are similar to other types of diabetes. Several years ago, scientists did not suspect the existence of LADA (type 1.5); only types 1 and 2 diabetes were distinguished.

Difference between autoimmune and type 1 diabetes:

• The need for insulin is lower, and the disease is sluggish, with periods of exacerbation. Even without concomitant treatment, the symptoms of diabetes 1.5 are often not noticeable to a person;
• The risk group includes people over 35 years of age; type 1 diabetes affects people of any age;
• Symptoms of LADA are often confused with those of other diseases, resulting in an incorrect diagnosis.

The nature and manifestation of type 1 diabetes are relatively well studied.

Difference between autoimmune and type 2 diabetes:

• Patients may not be overweight;
• The need for insulin consumption may arise as early as 6 months from the onset of the disease;
• The patient’s blood contains antibodies indicating an autoimmune disease;
• Modern equipment can detect markers of type 1 diabetes;
• Reducing hyperglycemia with medications has virtually no effect.

Important:

In the presence of symptoms of type 2 diabetes in adult patients without obesity, doctors are increasingly inclined to diagnose LADA. The main criterion for identifying type 1.5 diabetes is the presence of autoimmune markers.

Diagnostic criteria

Unfortunately, many endocrinologists do not conduct in-depth analysis when diagnosing the type of diabetes. After an incorrect diagnosis, medications are prescribed to lower blood glucose levels. For people with LADA, such treatment is harmful.

When diagnosing autoimmune diabetes, several methods are used that are recognized as the most effective.

At the initial stage, the patient undergoes standard procedures:

• Comprehensive blood tests;
• Analysis of urine.

If latent diabetes is suspected, the endocrinologist will issue a referral for specialized research. The latent form of diabetes mellitus is detected using:

• Glycated hemoglobin;
• Reaction to glucose;
• Fructosamine;
• Antibodies to IAA, IA-2A, ICA;
• Microalbumin;
• Genotyping.

In addition to laboratory tests, the following is examined:

• The patient's age is over 35;
• How insulin is produced (research takes several years);
• The patient's weight is normal or below normal;
• Is it possible to compensate for insulin with the help of medications and changes in the diet.

Only with deep diagnosis with long-term research in laboratories, monitoring of the patient and the processes in his body, is it possible to correctly diagnose autoimmune diabetes.

In Russia, outdated samples may be used:

• Glucose tolerance test using prednisolone. The patient takes prednisolone and glucose for several hours. The objective of the study is to track glycemia against the background of the drugs used.
• Staff-Traugott sample. On an empty stomach in the morning after measuring glucose levels, the patient drinks hot tea with dextropur. After an hour and a half, a patient with diabetes experiences glycemia; healthy people do not have such a reaction.

These diagnostic methods are considered ineffective and are rarely used.

What are the dangers of incorrect diagnosis?

Incorrect diagnosis of the type of diabetes and subsequent incorrect treatment entails consequences for the patient’s health:

• Autoimmune destruction of beta cells;
• A drop in insulin levels and production;
• Development of complications and general deterioration of the patient’s condition;
• With prolonged use of improper treatment, beta cells die.

Unlike people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, patients with LADA need rapid use of insulin in small doses without the use of medication.

Prescribing drugs that are inappropriate for an autoimmune disease reduces the chances of cure and restoration of the pancreas.

Treatment

Patients with LADA need prompt identification of the disease and the use of insulin injections.

It is on the consumption of insulin in small doses that the most effective treatment is built.

Patients who started insulin therapy in the early stages of the disease have every chance of restoring the production of natural insulin over time.

Along with insulin therapy, the following is prescribed:

• Low carbon diet;
• Playing sports;
• Continuous monitoring of blood glucose levels, including at night;
• Exclusion of certain medications indicated for overweight people and other types of diabetes.

It is important to reduce the stress on the pancreas to facilitate natural insulin production in the future. The goal of treatment is to stop the death of beta cells due to immune changes.

Drugs based on sulfourea are contraindicated for people with latent diabetes mellitus. These medications increase the secretion of pancreatic insulin and only increase the death of beta cells.

More recently, diabetes was divided into first and second, but thanks to the results of ongoing research, new types were discovered, one of which was Lada diabetes (LADA diabetes). How it differs from other types, how it is diagnosed and treated is detailed in this material.

What it is?

Lada diabetes is a type of diabetes mellitus discovered at the end of the twentieth century by Austrian nutritionists. They noticed that patients who have antibodies and a low level of secretion of C-peptide (a protein residue) do not have the second type at all, although the clinical picture points precisely to it. Then it turned out that this is not the first type, since insulin administration is required at much earlier stages. Thus, an intermediate form of the disease was isolated, later called Lada diabetes (latent autoimmune diabetes in adults).

Peculiarities

Latent diabetes is a hidden form in which the beta cells of the pancreas are destroyed. Many researchers call this type of disease “1.5”, since its slow progression is very similar to the second type, and its mechanics are similar to the first. Without additional research, it is difficult to make a correct diagnosis.

If this is not done and the disease is treated in the same way as type 2 diabetes (taking glucose-lowering pills), then the pancreas will work at its limit, and the death of beta cells will only accelerate. After a short period of time - from six months to 3 years - a person will need intensive insulin therapy, although in classic type 2 diabetes mellitus it is prescribed much later.

Patients with latent diabetes often suffer from disability

The main differences between the latent form and type 2 diabetes are:

• lack of excess weight (cases of the latent type in obese patients are quite rare);
• decreased level of C-peptides in the blood on an empty stomach and after taking a glucose solution;
• the presence of antibodies to pancreatic cells in the blood - the diabetic’s immune system attacks it;
• genetic analysis suggests a tendency to attack beta cells.

Symptoms

The “Lada diabetes clinical risk scale” developed by doctors includes the following criteria:

• age of onset of the disease is 25–50 years. If a person was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus in this age range, then it is imperative to get tested for Lada, since among patients with type 2, from 2 to 15% have a latent form, and those who do not suffer from obesity receive this diagnosis in half of the cases;
• acute manifestation of the onset of the disease: the average daily volume of urine increases (more than 2 liters), constant strong thirst appears, the patient loses weight and feels weak. However, Lada diabetes is asymptomatic;
• body mass index is less than 25 kg/m2, that is, those at risk, as a rule, are not obese or overweight;
• presence of autoimmune diseases in the past or at the moment;
• autoimmune diseases in close relatives.

Low body weight is a common sign of a latent form of the disease

If a patient gives from 0 to 1 positive answers to points from the given scale, then the probability of having an autoimmune type is below 1%; if there are 2 or more such answers, the risk of having Lada diabetes increases to 90%. In the latter case, the person needs to undergo additional examinations.

Last updated: October 7, 2019

Lada diabetes is latent autoimmune diabetes, which poses a rather serious danger.

It is difficult to diagnose but can easily be confused with type 2 diabetes.

As a result, incorrect treatment may be prescribed, which will lead to serious complications.

In the second half of the 20th century, nutritionists from Austria discovered a new type of diabetes mellitus - lada.

Patients who have antibodies and low levels of C-peptide secretion do not suffer from type 2 diabetes. Moreover, the signs of both pathologies are similar. Due to the fact that insulin must be administered early, this form is not recognized as type 1. This is how an intermediate form of pathology was identified - latent autoimmune diabetes in adults - lada.

This diagnosis means that the beta cells of the pancreas, which produce the hormone insulin, are decaying.

The result is an autoimmune process that is difficult to diagnose without further testing.

The peculiarity of the disease is that in diabetes mellitus, pancreatic cells produce the wrong insulin, so the concentration of sugar in the blood increases.

The second option is that peripheral tissues do not sense insulin produced in proper quantities.

In diabetes, the corresponding organs do not produce insulin or produce it in very small quantities. As a result, beta cells become depleted.

There are several reasons for this phenomenon:

• age: latent diabetes usually affects older people with a weak endocrine system,
• excess weight contributes to disruption of metabolic processes,
• pancreatic diseases,
• genetic predisposition to diabetes,
• pregnancy.

People who are predisposed to the appearance of autoimmune diabetes should be attentive to changes in the body. When the first symptoms of the disease appear, you should consult a doctor.

Lada diabetes has the following symptoms:

• increased fatigue, impotence,
• dizziness,
• in some cases, body temperature increases,
• high blood sugar levels,
• constant thirst, resulting in frequent urination,
• coating on the tongue,
• smell of acetone from the mouth.

Most often, the disease occurs without pronounced symptoms.

It can occur during pregnancy or after the baby is born. In adult women, autoimmune diabetes appears earlier than in men (at about 25 years of age).

The mechanisms of occurrence of the pathology are similar to other types of diabetes. At the same time, there are certain differences.

Differences between diabetes and type 1.

• in the first case, people get sick after 35 years of age (women after 25); type 1 diabetes does not depend on age.
• Symptoms of diabetes resemble the symptoms of some other diseases, which is why an incorrect diagnosis is made and incorrect treatment is prescribed.
• the disease is mild, sometimes aggravated, the need for insulin is low.

The difference between Lada diabetes and type 2.

• Overweight is not observed in all cases.
• After six months, you may need insulin injections.
• the blood contains antibodies - signs of autoimmune diabetes.
• the use of medications does not reduce high sugar.

The main difference is the death of all beta cells, insulin ceases to be produced by the pancreas.

After 1-3 years, complete dependence on additional insulin is formed. This does not depend on gender. The course of the disease resembles type 2 diabetes.

Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults has mild symptoms, patients do not feel the disease. In addition, basic tests may not always detect it. A blood sugar test will show normal results.

Most endocrinologists do not conduct in-depth research when diagnosing a type of diabetes. If an incorrect diagnosis is made, medications that lower sugar levels may be prescribed, which is contraindicated in diabetes.

Diagnosis of diabetes involves several procedures. First, a blood and urine test is examined.

If there is a suspicion of latent diabetes mellitus, narrowly focused studies are carried out to study:

• reaction to glucose
• glycated hemoglobin,
• antibodies to IAA, IA-2A, ISA,
• fructosamine,
• genotyping,
• microalbumin.

In this case, the specialist pays attention to the patient’s age and weight, how insulin is produced, and the possibility of compensating for it with medications and diet.

Modern medicine makes it possible to recognize autoimmune diabetes mellitus. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the patient is registered. The doctor selects the most effective treatment methods to prolong the functioning of your own hormones as long as possible.

If the treatment is incorrectly selected, various complications can occur:

• beta cells are completely destroyed
• insulin production and levels fall,
• the patient's health worsens.

In this case, large doses of insulin will be needed.

Lack of treatment leads to disability and, in some cases, death.

Unlike other types, diabetes mellitus does not require the use of medications; additional insulin is sufficient.

The most effective treatment is one in which insulin is consumed in small doses. In some cases, long-acting insulin is prescribed, which is diluted (since a small dosage is required). Injections are carried out regardless of sugar levels.

If therapy is started early, patients can restore their natural production of their own insulin. In this case, patients live to a ripe old age without complications.

In addition to insulin therapy, doctors prescribe:

• diet - you need to eat foods low in carbohydrates,
• physical activity - it is not necessary to engage in professional sports, a little exercise daily is enough,
• regular monitoring of blood sugar - readings should be monitored even at night,
• refusal of medications contraindicated for diabetics.

The main goal of treating autoimmune diabetes is to stop the death of beta cells due to immune changes. The use of drugs containing sulfourea is contraindicated, as they contribute to the death of beta cells. It is also necessary to reduce the load on the pancreas.

It happens that insufficient insulin is accompanied by insulin resistance. In this case, patients should take oral glucose-lowering drugs. These drugs help to increase the sensitivity threshold of peripheral tissues to insulin.

With the permission of the attending physician, you can use traditional methods of treatment: take decoctions and tinctures that help reduce blood sugar levels.

To raise awareness among patients, special diabetes schools are being established. They provide basic information about how to measure sugar correctly and what to do in case of complications.

If you notice the symptoms of diabetes mellitus in time, you can avoid further development of the disease.

Among the preventive measures are the following:

• If the patient discovers that his weight is significantly higher than normal, it is necessary to return him to his previous size. To do this, use the following two points.
• Physical exercise. walking, jogging in the morning or evening, swimming, cycling.
• Compliance with dietary nutrition. As already mentioned, foods should be low-carbohydrate. You need to eat fractionally (small portions) and often. Avoid sweet, fatty foods.
• Monitor your emotional state: be less nervous, tune in to a positive mood.
• Control of blood sugar levels by persons prone to diabetes.

It should be remembered that prevention must be regular. One diet breakfast and two runs are not enough to overcome the disease.

Thus, if you do not pay attention to the symptoms in time, diagnose and treat diabetes, various complications may occur. When diagnosing diabetes mellitus, additional research should be carried out in order to prescribe correct and effective therapy.