Department for Internal Medicine I
Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Infectiology and Rheumatology
Diabetes mellitus (diabetes) is a metabolic disorder that leads to increased blood glucose levels. We treat patients with diabetes mellitus type 1, type 2, type 3 and gestational diabetes as well as possible secondary diseases.
In the long term, diabetes mellitus causes changes to the blood vessels, which can lead to typical secondary diseases such as
The various types of diabetes can differ considerably in their course and sometimes in their treatment.
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is an autoimmune disease.
An immune reaction against the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas leads to a complete failure of insulin production, resulting in insulin deficiency.
Type 1 diabetes mellitus often occurs in childhood and adolescence, but can also occur throughout adulthood.
Classic insulin therapy, insulin pump or glucose sensors
The disease usually develops very quickly. Patients often have to be admitted to hospital as a result of severe derailment of their blood glucose metabolism.
At Regensburg University Hospital, we treat patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus according to the latest standards: both with conventional insulin therapy and with insulin pumps and glucose sensors.
Diabetes mellitus type 2 develops more slowly.
It is usually caused by so-called insulin resistance. Although sufficient insulin is produced, it cannot act properly on the target cells.
Initially, the body can compensate by producing more insulin. As the disease progresses, this is no longer enough and blood glucose levels rise.
Obesity as a risk factor: more and more younger people affected
Because type 2 diabetes used to be more common in older people, it was also known as adult-onset diabetes. But it is now affecting more and more younger people and even children. This is because the risk factor of obesity is already on the rise in childhood.
Type 2 diabetes can initially be treated with lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, etc.). In addition, we use medication to improve the effect of the existing insulin: initially mostly tablets, later more preparations that are injected like insulin. As the disease progresses, the body's ability to produce insulin may decrease to the point where insulin therapy becomes necessary, even in type 2 diabetes.
The term type 3 diabetes mellitus is used to describe a number of conditions that can lead to diabetes.
In some conditions, such as acromegaly or Cushing's disease, diabetes may disappear after the underlying condition has been treated.
So-called pancreatic diabetes occurs with
Like type 1 diabetes mellitus, pancreatic diabetes is caused by a total lack of insulin. Insulin therapy is therefore usually required immediately. Unfortunately, this condition cannot be reversed.
Gestational diabetes includes all forms of diabetes that are first diagnosed during pregnancy.
In most cases, the diabetes goes away at the end of the pregnancy. However, women with gestational diabetes have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus later in life. They should therefore be tested regularly every one to two years.
If affected women become pregnant again, their risk of developing gestational diabetes again increases. It is therefore important to be tested at an early stage in the case of a new pregnancy.
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