AGING ADULTS AND DIABETES
Saturday, 27 July 2019
by Christopher McMullan
AGING ADULTS AND DIABETES:
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Managing Diabetes as Part of Senior Care
Diabetes is a disease that affects the way the body processes food, especially sugar. Many seniors have a form of diabetes, which can become serious if it isn’t managed. Learn basic facts about diabetes prevention and management.
(CDC)
Types of Diabetes
There are two types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. While type 2 is much more common, especially among aging adults, type 1 diabetes can also affect seniors.
Type 1 Diabetes
- Chronic
- Unpreventable
- Diagnosed with a blood test
- Checked on through regular blood sugar tests
- May require regular insulin injections or a pump
Type 2 Diabetes
- Chronic
- Sometimes preventable
- Diagnosed with a blood test
- Checked on through periodic blood sugar tests
- Often manageable by lifestyle and diet changes; may require medication
For seniors with type 1 diabetes, care should continue as normal. Caregivers should pay special attention for symptoms of hypoglycemia and take care to help seniors manage their disease as common parts of aging, like memory loss or lack of routine, increase the difficulty of maintaining a healthy state.
About Type 2 Diabetes and Seniors
Symptoms:
- Feeling tired
- Being unusually hungry or thirsty
- Accidental weight loss
- Frequent urination
- Blurred vision
- Skin infections
- Healing slowly from cuts and bruises
Medical Tests:
Blood tests can diagnose diabetes and sometimes even show signs of prediabetes. Seniors should be screened for diabetes at annual appointments and ask a doctor for blood tests if symptoms develop.
Type 2 Diabetes Management:
- See a dietician for help with meal planning for a healthier diet
- Get regular exercise (personal training is often discounted for seniors)
- Track glucose levels with blood tests as directed by a doctor
- Lose weight if obesity is contributing to the disease
- Choose a healthy lifestyle to decrease risks associated with diabetes like stroke (stop smoking, get more sleep, attend annual physical exams)
In some cases, medication is part of type 2 diabetes management. Ask a doctor if any medications could be helpful in preventing type 2 diabetes from worsening. Be sure a senior’s caregiving team is in sync concerning diabetes care to keep blood sugar levels healthy.
Home Care Tip
Being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes can be discouraging for seniors. The risks of worsening diabetes are serious: people sometimes require amputations. Be supportive and understanding. Find a support group or classes about type 2 diabetes to help seniors stay positive and make healthy choices.
Type 2 Diabetes Prevention
Many people can lower their risk of type 2 diabetes by making lifestyle changes like:
- Losing weight
- Getting regular exercise
- Eating a healthy diet
- Taking prescriptions as recommended by a doctor
Seniors should take prevention very seriously if they are told they have prediabetes, which predisposes them to develop the disease.
Type 2 Diabetes Risk Factors
Seniors are at greater risk of type 2 diabetes if they:
- Are over 65 years old
- Are overweight
- Have a family history of diabetes
- Are sedentary
- Had gestational diabetes while pregnant
*ClearCare
- Published in IN HOME CARE
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PREVENTATIVE HEALTH STRATEGIES FOR SENIORS
Thursday, 27 June 2019
by Christopher McMullan
- Published in IN HOME CARE
HELPING SENIORS CREATE AN EMERGENCY CONTACT PLAN
Thursday, 27 June 2019
by Christopher McMullan
- Published in ALZHEIMER, CAREGIVERS, DEMENTIA, IN HOME CARE
WHAT SENIORS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OSTEOPOROSIS
Friday, 26 April 2019
by Christopher McMullan
How Osteoporosis Affects Seniors
It’s likely that more than 200 million people are living with osteoporosis—especially common among older women. Learn how to prevent or manage it this National Osteoporosis Month.
It’s likely that more than 200 million people are living with osteoporosis, a medical condition marked by having fragile bones. This condition is especially common among older women, and it can be dangerous. (NCBI)
May is National Osteoporosis Month. Since seniors are at greater risk of this disease, it’s important to learn how to prevent or manage osteoporosis.
The Basic Facts of Osteoporosis
What Is Osteoporosis?
Everybody relies on their bones for strength, support, and more. Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens bones. As a result, bones are fragile and susceptible to risks like breaks and fractures. When combined with conditions like arthritis, osteoporosis can make tasks like moving around risky and painful.
Potential Outcomes of Osteoporosis:
- Breaks and fractures
- Complications resulting from breaks & fractures
- Poor posture
- Limited mobility
What Causes It?
For many people, osteoporosis is a side effect of aging. However, it can be exacerbated and accelerated by conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, stroke, and some cancers. Certain medications and negative habits, like poor nutrition, can also contribute.
Diagnosing Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is diagnosed through a bone mineral density (BMD) test. Other exams and laboratory tests are sometimes administered as well. (National Osteoporosis Foundation)
WHAT SENIORS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OSTEOPOROSIS
Osteoporosis Awareness Month
Home Care Tip
Since seniors are at greater risk of osteoporosis and falling, it’s important for you to learn how to avoid falls, including arranging a home safely and knowing how to get up and down safely. (National Osteoporosis Foundation)
Symptoms of Osteoporosis
If you are experiencing any of the following signs of bone loss, it is essential you be screened for osteoporosis and other bone-related diseases:
- Loss of height
- Aches without injury
- Poor posture
- Oral bone loss conditions
- Regular fractures
(WebMD)
Risk Factors
- Being a woman
- Getting older
- Being of Caucasian or Asian descent
- Family history
- Small body frame
- Unhealthy diet
- Lack of exercise
(Mayo Clinic)
Preventing and Managing Osteoporosis
Prevention Tips
Preventing osteoporosis protects seniors from bone-related problems. Consider incorporating the following:
- Calcium
- Vitamin D
- Regular exercise
- A balanced diet
Managing Osteoporosis
- Learn to prevent falls and what to do in case of a fall
- See a doctor for regular monitoring of disease progression
- Eat a bone-healthy diet and follow an exercise regimen
- Take medication to treat osteoporosis
(American Family Physician)
References:
- Published in ALZHEIMER, CAREGIVERS, DEMENTIA, IN HOME CARE
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