Diabetes mellitus ranks first in the world among diseases of the human endocrine system and in third place among other diseases leading to death. The first two positions are malignant tumors and diseases of the cardiovascular system. The danger of diabetes lies also in the fact that with this disease all internal organs and systems of a person suffer.
What is diabetes
This is a disease of the endocrine system associated with metabolic disorders, that is, the absorption of glucose. As a result, special pancreatic cells do not produce enough or do not produce the hormone insulin, which is responsible for the decomposition of sucrose. As a result, hyperglycemia develops - a symptom associated with an increase in glucose in human blood.
Psychosomatics (other Greek, psycho - soul, somat - body)
Psychomatic medicine is the fusion of medicine and psychology. Psychosomatics explores how the mental state and personality characteristics of a person affect various somatic, that is, bodily, diseases.
Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
There are diabetes mellitus of the first and second type. With type 1, the pancreas in the human body does not secrete enough insulin hormone. More often, this type of diabetes affects children and adolescents, as well as young people under 30 years old. With type 2 disease, the body is not able to absorb its own produced insulin.
Causes of diabetes according to academic medicine
The main reason for the appearance of this disease, official medicine considers the abuse of refined carbohydrates, for example, sweet rolls of white flour. As a result, excess weight appears. Also in the list of reasons responsible for the occurrence of diabetes, doctors note physical inactivity, alcohol, fatty foods, nightlife. But even adherents of academic medicine note that the level of stress greatly affects the occurrence of this disease.
Psychosomatics of diabetes
Three main psychosomatic causes of this disease can be distinguished:
- Depression after a severe shock, the so-called post-traumatic depression. It can be a difficult divorce, loss of a loved one, rape. The trigger mechanism for the onset of the disease can be any difficult life situation that a person cannot release on his own.
- Prolonged stresses passing into depression. Permanent unresolved problems in the family or at work first lead to chronic depression, and then to diabetes. For example, infidelity of a partner or alcoholism of one of the spouses, long illnesses of one of the family members, long trouble with the management and colleagues at work, engaging in unloved business and so on.
- Frequent negative emotions, such as fear or rage, cause increased anxiety or even panic attacks in humans.
All of the above can be the reasons for the psychosomatics of type 2 diabetes. Due to frequent and strong negative emotions, glucose in the body is burned very quickly, insulin does not have time to cope. That is why during stress, most people are drawn to eat something carbohydrate-containing - chocolate or sweet buns. Over time, “seizing” stress becomes a habit, the level of glucose in the blood constantly jumps, excess weight appears. A person may start taking alcohol.
Psychosomatics of diabetes in children
Psychosomatics experts note that in children this disease often develops with a lack of parental love. Parents are constantly busy, they do not have time for a child. A kid or teenager begins to feel unprotected and unnecessary. A constant depressed state entails overeating and abuse of carbohydrate-containing foods, such as sweets. Food begins to be not just a way to satisfy hunger, but a means to get pleasure, which is resorted to almost constantly.
Psychosamatics type 1 disease
The psychosomatics of type 1 diabetes is:
- The loss of a loved one, more often than a mother.
- Parents divorce
- Beating and / or rape.
- Panic attacks or panic from waiting for negative events.
Any mental trauma in a child can lead to this disease.
As a psychosomatics of diabetes, Louise Hey considers the lack of love and, as a result, the suffering of diabetics in this regard. The American psychologist points out that the causes of this serious disease should be sought in the childhood of patients.
Homeopath VV Sinelnikov also considers the lack of joy to be the psychosomatics of diabetes. He claims that only by learning to enjoy life can one overcome this serious disease.
Help of psychotherapists and psychiatrists
According to studies, the search for the cause and treatment of the psychosomatics of type 1 and type 2 diabetes should begin with a visit to a therapist. The specialist will prescribe the patient to undergo comprehensive tests, and if necessary, refer him to consultations with such doctors as a neurologist or psychiatrist.
Often, in the presence of diabetes mellitus, the patient finds some kind of mental disorder leading to the disease.
We highlight the reasons
This may be one of the following syndromes:
- Neurotic - characterized by increased fatigue and irritability.
- Hysterical disorder is a constant need for increased attention to oneself, as well as unstable self-esteem.
- Neurosis - is manifested by a decrease in working capacity, increased fatigue and obsessive states.
- Astheno-depressive syndrome - constant low mood, decreased intellectual activity and lethargy.
- Astheno-hypochondria or chronic fatigue syndrome.
A competent specialist will prescribe a course of treatment for diabetes in psychosomatics. Modern psychiatry is able to cope with such conditions at almost any stage, which should facilitate the course of diabetes.
Therapies
Treatment of psychosomatic disorders:
- At the initial stage of a mental illness, a psychotherapist uses a set of measures aimed at eliminating the causes that entailed problems in the patient's psycho-emotional sphere.
- Drug treatment of a mental state, including the appointment of nootropic drugs, antidepressants, sedatives. With more serious abnormalities, a neuroleptic or tranquilizer is prescribed by a psychiatrist. Drug treatment is mainly prescribed in combination with psychotherapeutic procedures.
- Treatment with alternative methods using herbal remedies that normalize the human nervous system. It can be herbs such as chamomile, mint, motherwort, valerian, St. John's wort, oregano, linden, yarrow and some others.
- Physiotherapy. With varieties of asthenic syndrome, ultraviolet lamps and electrophoresis are used.
- Chinese medicine is becoming increasingly popular:
- Chinese herbal tea recipes.
- Gymnastics Qigong.
- Acupuncture.
- Acupressure Chinese massage.
But it is important to remember that the treatment of psychosomatics of diabetes should be in conjunction with the main, prescribed by the endocrinologist.
Daily Diabetes Therapy
The somatic treatment prescribed by the endocrinologist usually consists of maintaining a normal glucose level in the patient’s blood. And also in the use of the hormone insulin, if necessary.
Treatment requires the active participation of the patient himself and includes the following components.
The most important thing is maintaining a diet . Moreover, the diet for patients with type 1 is different from the diet for patients with type 2 diabetes. There are also differences in diet by age criteria. General principles of the diet for diabetics include the regulation of blood glucose, weight loss, reducing the load on the pancreas and other organs of the gastrointestinal tract.
- In type 1 diabetes, vegetables should be the basis of the menu. Sugar should be excluded, a minimum of salt, fat and easily digestible carbohydrates should be consumed. Acidic fruits are allowed. It is recommended to drink more water and eat food in small portions 5 times a day.
- With type 2, it is necessary to reduce the total calorie content of foods and limit carbohydrates. This should lower glucose in food. Semi-finished foods, fatty foods (sour cream, smoked meats, sausages, nuts), muffins, honey and preserves, soda and other sweet drinks, as well as dried fruits are prohibited. Food should also be fractional, which will help to avoid sudden spikes in blood sugar.
Drug therapy. Includes insulin therapy and the use of drugs that reduce blood glucose.
Physical exercise. It is important to know that sport is a powerful tool in the fight against diabetes. Physical activity can increase the patient's sensitivity to insulin. And also normalize sugar levels, and improve blood quality in general. In addition, it should be remembered that a variety of exercises increase the level of endorphins in the blood, which means they contribute to the improvement of the psychosomatics of diabetes mellitus. During physical education, the following changes occur with the body:
- Reduction of subcutaneous fat.
- Increase in muscle mass.
- An increase in the number of special receptors that are sensitive to insulin.
- Improving metabolic processes.
- Improving the mental and emotional state of the patient.
- Reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular disease
Examination of the patient's blood and urine for glucose concentration in order to prescribe the correct treatment for diabetes.
Summary
In conclusion of the material, several conclusions can be made about the psychosomatic causes of such a serious disease as diabetes:
- During stress, blood sugar is actively burned, a person begins to consume too much harmful carbohydrates, which causes diabetes.
- During depression, the functioning of the entire human body is disrupted, which entails a hormonal malfunction.
It is necessary to improve your psycho-emotional state to alleviate this serious disease.