Are seniors at the risk of diabetes? How can they prevent the illness as much as possible? And are they more vulnerable to get affected than the younger generation?
In the enlightenment of the World Health Organization, diabetes is a chronic, metabolic disease characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose (also known as blood sugar), which leads over time to inflict damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves. This illness can worsen due to the body's inability to produce insulin.
Because of this, the Center for Disease Control says more than 30 million people have some form of diabetes. Around 25% of the older adults that are aged 65 and older have diabetes.
In diabetes, while younger people with type 2 diabetes are often overweight, obesity is not as common among older diabetes patients. Being underweight is as common as being overweight in nursing homes. Nevertheless, this can have a different effect based on the elderly's age. Some may be overweight, have heart disease, or have high blood sugar levels.
There are four types of diabetes:
Prediabetes
> This means that someone can have a higher than average blood sugar level. But it is not enough to be considered type 2 diabetes. However, it can go worse without lifestyle changes, but it is not unavoidable. There is no precise or exact cause for prediabetes. However, family history and genetics play an essential role in this matter. The most severe consequence of prediabetes is progression to type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes
> This means that someone makes little to no insulin and needs to take insulin therapy once diagnosed. It usually begins in childhood, but also can start in adulthood. Its form is typically caused by an autoimmune disorder, which means that the body's immune system mistakenly attacks cells that make insulin. In some people, type 1 diabetes may occur after a viral infection. And in rare cases, type 1 diabetes may occur after injury to the pancreas from trauma or toxins.
Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults
>This is a type 1 diabetes subtype that happens at adulthood. LADA is similar to type 1 diabetes, in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks cells that produce insulin. Unlike type 2 diabetes, adults with LADA are often thin and may lack a family history of diabetes. They typically need to take insulin within six months of diagnosis.
Type 2 diabetes
> This is the most common type of diabetes that typically occurs in people who are overweight and inactive. People with type 2 diabetes do not make or use insulin well, like type 1 diabetes.
There are complications regarding each type of diabetes. These are the following:
Prediabetes:
> high blood pressure
> high cholesterol
> heart disease
> stroke
> kidney disease
> nerve damage
> vision problems or possible loss of vision
> amputations
Type 1 diabetes:
> frequent urination and bedwetting
> increased thirst and hunger
> mood changes
> blurry vision
> fatigue
> weight loss
Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults:
> frequent infection
> weakness and fatigue
> dry, itchy skin
> tingling in your hands or feet
Type 2 Diabetes:
> increased urine patterns
> extreme hunger or thirst
> fatigue
> blurred vision
Due to these complications present, the effects on aged people may not be as noticeable, unlike younger people. Some symptoms that could connect to diabetes get ignored as they're becoming old. However, this may not be the case.
Other conditions can complicate diabetes, such as high blood pressure that can speed up the progression of common complications of diabetes.
There are some ways to prevent getting these types of diabetes, such as:
Eating healthily
> it is much better for older people to eat a healthy diet that is low in sugar and saturated fats.
Stay active
> having to do a 10-minute aerobic exercise 3 times a day can help in controlling the senior's glucose level, manage their weight, and stay active. A couple of examples of this kind of exercise would be walking, swimming, and bicycling.
Never miss a dose of medication
> there are ways to remind an elderly to take medication, like charts, or alarms on their mobile devices.
Get Vaccinated
> it is vital to get the flu vaccine and the pneumonia vaccine each fall season. These vaccines are essential for older people with diabetes that are at a higher risk for complications from the flu.
Diabetes may be well-known and can be dangerous to older people. Despite this, there is a cure for the disease. With the right medication and a healthy lifestyle, the aged people can live without worrying about the illness itself.
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