During her travel, Ms. Liu from Tianjin fell ill suddenly and easily believed in the "special medicine" recommended by a quack doctor, which ultimately cost her a painful price.
After taking "special medicine" intermittently for just half a year, the patient experienced a surge in weight and generalized edema; his blood sugar levels became abnormal, and he was ultimately diagnosed with diabetes.
Professor Liu Yuehong, Vice President of Hainan Chengmei Hospital and an endocrinology expert, warns that cases of endocrine disorders caused by the abuse of "three-no" products are not uncommon, and the health risks lurking behind them merit high vigilance from everyone.
01
"Three no drugs" can lead to diabetes through "eating"
"At first, I just had a sudden backache while traveling. Thinking it would be convenient, I bought a few bottles of 'secret family recipe' from a roadside quack. I never expected it to completely ruin my body," Ms. Liu said, her words heartbreaking.
It is understood that Ms. Liu took this "three-no" medicine, which had no manufacturer, no approval number, and no quality specification. Half a year later, her body showed obvious abnormalities: her weight increased by nearly 10 kilograms in a short period of time, her feet were continuously swollen, she was short of breath after a little activity, and she frequently experienced symptoms such as thirst and polyuria.
After a hospital examination, Ms. Liu was found to have abnormal fasting blood glucose levels and was ultimately diagnosed with diabetes.
Further examination revealed that Ms. Liu's cortisol level was severely elevated. Combined with her medication history, it was clear that this was caused by long-term consumption of "three-no" products illegally containing glucocorticoids (referred to as hormones). Professor Liu Yuehong stated that such products may alleviate symptoms such as pain in the short term, but they can cause irreversible damage to the endocrine system, and diabetes is one of the typical complications.
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The "lethal hazards" of "hormone" abuse extend beyond diabetes
Why do "three-no" pills cause such serious problems? Professor Liu Yuehong explained that unscrupulous merchants often add "hormones" to "three-no" pain relieving products in pursuit of "quick-acting" effects. Although these hormone products can quickly alleviate inflammation and pain, long-term abuse can lead to a series of metabolic disorders.
"Hormones" can directly interfere with insulin sensitivity, leading to a decrease in the body's ability to regulate blood sugar, which in turn can induce steroid-induced diabetes, which is the main reason for Ms. Liu's illness," Professor Liu Yuehong added. In addition, long-term abuse of "hormones" can also lead to central obesity, osteoporosis, hypertension, peptic ulcers, and other problems. In severe cases, it may also damage liver and kidney function and induce mental disorders.
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Experts offer threefold advice: stay away from "three-no" products
Based on Ms. Liu's case, Professor Liu Yuehong gave three suggestions to help people avoid medication risks.
Reject unlicensed drugs and do not easily believe in "family-passed down secret formulas"
"Regular drugs must be labeled with the national drug approval number, ingredients, manufacturer, production date, and other information. Any missing item may indicate a 'three-no' product," Professor Liu Yuehong reminded. When experiencing pain or discomfort, one should seek medical attention at a regular hospital and use medication only after a standardized examination has confirmed the cause.
Be vigilant to the abnormal signals emitted by your body
If symptoms such as unexplained weight gain, facial swelling, acne, fatigue, increased thirst, and polyuria occur during medication, it is necessary to immediately discontinue the medication and seek medical examination, with a focus on blood glucose, blood pressure, and hormone levels. For patients who have been taking "hormones" for a long time, regular reexaminations under the guidance of a doctor are necessary to avoid self-adjustment of dosage or abrupt discontinuation of medication, in order to prevent the occurrence of adrenal insufficiency crisis.
Strengthen health awareness and attach importance to endocrine screening
"Many endocrine diseases have subtle early symptoms, and regular physical examinations can promptly detect abnormalities in blood sugar, hormone levels, and other indicators," Professor Liu Yuehong advised. Especially for individuals with a long history of medication, obesity, or a family history of diabetes, it is recommended to increase the frequency of physical examinations to achieve early detection and intervention. There is no shortcut to good health, and relying on folk remedies for temporary convenience may ultimately come at a heavy cost to one's health.
Expert Introduction
Liu Yuehong, Chief Physician
Vice President, Doctor of Medicine
Other high-level talents in Hainan Province
Medical expertise: With years of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of metabolic diseases, endocrine system diseases, and osteoporosis, I have conducted in-depth research on the pathogenesis and genetic polymorphism of diabetic retinopathy.
Article | Huang Fei