According to the American Diabetes Association, as of 2015 over 30 million American citizens suffer from diabetes. Of this figure, 12 million of these individuals are over the age of 65. As a disease, it is becoming one of the biggest health risks in the country. This blog post will discuss how diabetes can affect older adults and the treatment options available.
Diabetes In Older Adults: What Are The Symptoms?
Diabetes is a disorder which affects the body’s metabolism and ability to process food for energy purposes. When you have diabetes, your body isn’t capable of producing enough insulin or doesn’t use insulin in the correct way. This means that your body has difficulty processing the sugar which is present in food causing your blood glucose levels to become too high. It is a chronic condition and without the necessary treatment and precautions, it could to serious health complications.
Most older adults are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Type 2 is most commonly evident in individuals over the age of 45 and is most often linked to the accumulation of unhealthy lifestyle and eating habits. The symptoms of type 2 diabetes are most commonly described as excessive urination, fatigue, dehydration, feeling thirsty, weight loss and blurred vision.
Why Seniors Are At Risk
Seniors are most at risk from this condition because oftentimes the symptoms of type 2 diabetes are misdiagnosed. Symptoms such as excessive urination, blurred vision and fatigue are often overlooked as just a sign of natural aging rather than a need for concern. As a result, many older adults don’t recognize the symptoms when they are happening or often get diagnosed by a doctor after the damage has already been done.
If left untreated, this condition can potentially lead to major damage to the body’s core organs. Seniors with undiagnosed diabetes are at an increased risk of developing kidney damage, having a heart attack or stroke, nerve damage and vision loss.
Management of the condition can also be difficult especially in cases where aging adults suffer from other health concerns such as high blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, this can increase the rate of progression of diabetes which can lead to kidney and artery complications faster. Diabetes also makes individuals more susceptible to getting infections such as the flu which can be very harmful to older adults. That is why getting the necessary treatment and vaccinations are vital.
Treatment Options Available For Aging Adults
Treatment options will most often include a medication programme and a change in lifestyle. Depending on your diagnosis, your health care practitioner may require you to test your blood glucose level regularly and take additional medication to manage your symptoms. If you have a pre-existing condition that you feel may affect the treatment of your diabetes, make sure to discuss your options with your doctor.
Making changes to your lifestyle plays a huge role in managing any symptoms experienced by the condition. It is important that you make healthy food options and get plenty of exercise on a regular basis. Cutting out fatty and sugary foods is vital when treating type 2 diabetes. If you are having trouble making a meal plan, it may be beneficial to visit a dietician or ask your doctor to provide you with suggestions.
Daily exercise also helps us to maintain our glucose levels. Even going for a brisk walk for 20 minutes a day, doing some yard work or going for a swim can be extremely beneficial in the management of this disease.
Taking Care Of Your Health In Later Years
For older adults, a diabetes diagnosis can be a complication but with the correct treatment, management and lifestyle changes it doesn’t have to be. By making sure to take care of our health as we get older and taking the right steps to lead a healthy life, you can ensure that you stay healthy for many more years to come.