Prophylaxis
There are no preventive measures to avoid type 1 diabetes. However, type 2 diabetes can be prevented if the biggest risk factor, overweight, is eliminated early. This requires a healthy and balanced diet and regular physical activity.
It is important that these measures are carried out permanently and do not become a compulsion. Sport is beneficial in preventing diabetes, as less insulin is released during physical exercise. The cells need less insulin to absorb glucose (sugar), so the risk of insulin resistance and increased insulin secretion, as with type 2, is low.
Forecast
The prognosis for the diabetic patient is decisively determined by the extent of the vascular damage. Almost 80% of the causes of death in diabetics are due to vascular disease. In order to keep the risk of diabetic vascular damage as low as possible, the diabetic should aim to maintain a normal high blood sugar level permanently and consistently.
In this context, self-monitoring of blood glucose levels and drug therapy with oral antidiabetics or insulin are important aspects. Type 1 diabetics often suffer damage to the small blood vessels after a long period of illness. These changes in the vessels of the kidneys are particularly critical: The main cause of death in these patients is chronic damage to the kidneys.
In type 2 diabetics, on the other hand, the course of the disease is decisively influenced by the damage to the large vessels. Heart attack (myocardial infarction) or stroke (apoplexy) are frequent causes of death. Since overweight (obesity) is a frequent cause of disease, the prognosis of type 2 diabetics can be significantly improved by a timely weight reduction with an appropriate diet and physical activity.
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