Elderly and Diabetes | Diabetes Awareness Month

Elderly and Diabetes | Diabetes Awareness Month

Diabetes wrecks havoc on Americans every single year. Since the 60’s its grip on the populous has widen with each passing decade. November is National Diabetes Month and as a national focus gestational diabetes is what is collectively being discussed. Here at Genesis we want to focus on Diabetes on our elderly population. The importance of monitoring your health never ends, as we age this should be even more important.

Before we do here is a brief on what Gestational diabetes is. Gestational Diabetes effects pregnant women and their babies. It usually develops between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy. Gestational diabetes may not have any symptoms, it can arise from hormonal changes affecting the efficacy of your insulin usage or extra weight can contribute to you developing gestational diabetes, which is elevated blood sugar levels. I would ask, if you know someone that is pregnant that you kindly ask them if they have heard of gestational diabetes and if they are seeing a medical professional throughout their pregnancy.

If you develop gestational diabetes it doesn’t mean that you had it prior to pregnancy, however, it does increase your chances of developing type II diabetes the future. If you want general information on diabetes, I will have links within this post that you can look more into.

First, here is a quick layman’s explanation of what diabetes is. Diabetes is simply too much sugar floating in your blood stream without proper usage of that sugar by your body and so it begins to accumulate and have negative effects on your body and body functions.

There are two types of Diabetes.

Type I –

Type I diabetes – your body doesn’t make its own insulin or insufficient amounts.

Type II –

Type II diabetes – your body doesn’t properly use the insulin it has and usually results in oversaturated blood with sugar.

Insulin is the hormone that has the job of moving those free floating sugars around to where they need to go. So if your body doesn’t produce insulin or your body isn’t properly utilizing its insulin this allows for diabetes to flourish.

Most people (95%) of those with diabetes have Type II. Which means it is developed later in life and usually not caused by a bad organ or hormone deficiency. There isn’t a known causation for diabetes however, there are contributors that are agreed upon by the medical field. They are excess body fat (esp obesity), high blood pressure, history of gestational diabetes, aging, and familial history.

“In the October 31, 2008 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Centers for Diseases and Prevention (CDC) reported that the incidence of new onset diagnosed diabetes in U.S. adults has increased by 90% over the past decade.” – NCBI

Other notable facts to recognize are that minorities have a higher percentage of development. With Asians at (8%), Hispanics (12.1), African Americans (12.7) and Native Americans and Native Alaskans (15.1).

For a more in depth statistical analysis click – diabetes.

Diabetes will wreck havoc on your life and can even contribute to your early grave or be the direct reason. Here is a list of signs and symptoms of diabetes as well as effects of diabetes?

Review this list:

Extreme thirst, sweet smelling breath, risk of heart disease, fatigue, pancreas malfunction, excessive urination, damaged blood vessels, nerve damage, serious foot problems, loss of consciousness, visual disturbances, cataracts and glaucoma, risk of infections, high blood pressure, gastroparesis, protein in the urine, ketoacidosis, and dry skin.

Each of these not only creates severe hindrances to your life but will also affect other health issues you may have and may even foster another health crisis.

Diabetes affects all, but we wanted to focus on the Elderly because this group is often not properly included on clinical studies. One- third of older adults are never diagnosed. Most people over 65 who develop diabetes are non-Hispanic whites. Developing diabetes at this age drastically increases lower extremity amputation, heart attacks, visual impairment and end stage renal disease. All things that can be avoided. The older we get the more dramatic the results of this sickness becomes.

The percentage of Americans age 65 and older remains high, at 25.2%, or 12.0 million seniors (diagnosed and undiagnosed. Here

Diabetes is not something we get as we age or because we have aged, people of all ages develop it. So why do so many elderly people have diabetes? It could be a number of contributing factors that we have to monitor such as other medications that you may be taking, a coexisting illness, genetics, perhaps its reduced insulin production, or decreased physical activity, or extra fatty tissue buildup.

The importance of constant annual physical assessments is key. Diabetes exacerbates any other morbidity you may have and it speeds up the development of other diseases. If you notice a change in physical, mental, dexterity, coordination, a weaker immune system producing the flu, herpes zoster, or cancer, eye sight issues, hearing issues or any irregular change- see your physician. Be mindful of your body and don’t except everything as part of the normal aging process. Many people allow for years to pass by without proper medical checkups and abnormalities develop, go unnoticed and then are grow unchecked.

Diabetes in the elderly is often overlooked because of the nature of the signs and symptoms caused by a wide number of things. These complaints may be viewed as passing or non specific symptoms that will autocorrect. Be adamant about your care and do not be timid in getting a second professional opinion.

If you are told that you have diabetes your doctor will prescribe some medication to you and will have you alter your diet and implement an exercise regiment. It may be good to see a nutritionist, stop smoking and all tobacco products, monitor your blood pressure and cholesterol. Make sure you listen to your doctor and formulate a plan for your daily living.

Diabetes isn’t necessary or a guaranteed disease. Be mindful of your health, visit your doctor, get exercise, eat healthy, stay hydrated get proper sleep and you will drastically reduce the likelihood of developing diabetes and increase an overall healthier life.

More info:

www.diabetes.org

www.cdc.gov

www.niddk.nih.gov

www.medicare.gov

Disclaimer: This article is intended as a friendly reminder with recommendations. It is not medical advice, direction or prescription of any sort. Please refer to professional services for any health-related questions, concerns and relief.