Metabolic Syndrome: Forecast for the Development of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a pathological condition associated with increased tissue resistance to the effects of insulin. Gradually, it causes an increase in plasma insulin levels and impaired glucose tolerance. If left untreated, there is a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The consequences of the changes are abdominal obesity, arterial hypertension, hyperuricemia (increased concentration of uric acid in the blood). According to WHO , the number of patients with insulin-resistant syndrome who have a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus is 40-60 million people in Europe . In industrialized countries, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among people over 30 years of age is 10-20%, in the USA - 34% (44% among people over 50 years of age) [4] . Metabolic syndrome was thought to be a disease of middle-aged people and (mostly) women. However, a survey conducted under the auspices of the American Diabetes Association indicates that the syndrome is showing a steady increase among adolescents and young adults . Thus, according to scientists from the University of Washington , between 1994 and 2000, the incidence of metabolic syndrome among adolescents increased from 4.2 to 6.4%. Nationally, the number of teenagers and young adults with Syndrome X is estimated to be more than 2 million.

Metabolic syndrome is one of the most pressing problems of modern medicine, associated with an unhealthy lifestyle. The concept of a “healthy lifestyle” includes a balanced diet , maintaining normal body weight, regular and age-appropriate physical activity, healthy sleep , and avoiding drinking alcohol and smoking.