How many older adults have diabetes? It’s a question that is difficult to answer definitively. But, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), diabetes can go undiagnosed in millions of people each year. If you’re one of the millions of seniors living with diabetes, know that you’re not alone. There are plenty of ways to manage your condition and stay healthy.
In the United States, 1.5 million people are diagnosed with diabetes each year. The proportion of Americans aged 65 and older, at 26.8 percent (or 14.3 million seniors), is still significant.
Diabetes is a serious condition that can lead to other health issues, so knowing whether you’re at risk and taking actions to avoid it is critical. Keep reading for more information on diabetes in older adults!
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is an illness increasing in both incidence and severity for the past several decades. Diabetes develops when your pancreas does not make enough insulin or your body does not utilize the insulin it does produce adequately. The majority of the food you eat gets broken down into sugar (also known as glucose) and circulated throughout your body. When blood sugar levels increase, the pancreas will produce insulin. Insulin combines with sugar and travels to cells throughout the body. Cells need sugar to function, and insulin allows them to take in the glucose they need for energy.
Diabetes occurs when the body produces either too much or not enough insulin. Glucose buildup can cause short-term health problems such as fatigue and frequent urination and long-term medical effects such as blindness, nerve damage, stroke, heart disease, kidney problems, dementia, and more.
Who is More at Risk for Diabetes?
Everyone is at risk for diabetes, but seniors are at higher risk than young adults. Because at-risk seniors generally have a less active lifestyle and tend to be more sedentary. Since seniors are not moving around, they don’t burn as many calories each day, which leads to the body having too much insulin by default. On top of that, seniors are likely on multiple medications that can decrease their blood sugar levels or increase the amount of sugar in their blood. All of these factors combined make seniors more likely to suffer from diabetes.
Diabetes is commonly associated with seniors because over half of all cases occur among people 50 years old or older. Diabetes tends to develop later in life for this reason; seniors tend to live on fixed incomes and eat less healthy food regularly, which predisposes them to diabetes. Seniors make up 15% of the world’s population. Still, they account for 21% of all diabetes cases (that’s more than 160 million seniors living with diabetes worldwide).
Medicare, the federal government’s universal health insurance program for older people, is mainly responsible for paying for diabetes expenses in elderly Americans. The direct medical expenditures of diabetes treatment for older persons were $104 billion a year in 2012, owing primarily to hospital inpatient stays. Furthermore, the additional strain on society informally resulting from caregiving is essential. The estimated expenditures for diabetes treatment in older people have projections to triple between 2009 and 2034. Future diabetes management strategies in the elderly are under the guidance of the American Diabetes Association, which suggests delivering highly personalized therapy.
What Age Group has the Highest Rate of Diabetes?
Seniors have the highest rate of diabetes. According to the centers for disease control and prevention, seniors account for more than half of all diabetes cases in the united states. in fact, one in four seniors has diabetes. Seniors and older adults need to understand how diabetes affects seniors, its risk factors, care, management, and prevention. Talk to your doctor about being checked if you’re a senior or older adult at risk for diabetes.
If you suspect that you have diabetes symptoms, make an appointment today to get tested. An early diagnosis can help save your health and reduce the harmful effects of high blood sugar on your body.
What are the Signs of Diabetes in the Elderly?
- Feeling very thirsty
- Urinating often, especially at night
- Feeling tired all the time
- Losing weight without trying
- Having a blurry vision or other vision changes
- Tingling or numbness in the hands and feet
- A decrease in physical performance
- The elderly may also get skin infections
- Cuts and bruises heal slowly
How is Diabetes Treated in the Elderly?
Doctors recommend lifestyle changes as part of a diabetes treatment plan in most cases. These changes can help seniors with diabetes improve their blood sugar levels, lower cholesterol, and lose weight. Many seniors have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes or Pre-diabetes (also known as impaired glucose tolerance ). Losing just 5% – 7% of your starting body weight could delay or prevent further complications from developing. In seniors who have already developed complications, the treatment plan might include taking medications and undergoing regular medical procedures.
Medications can help seniors use insulin more effectively, increase their sensitivity to insulin, or control their blood sugar levels by slowing down carbohydrate absorption. Some seniors who need medication to treat diabetes may use ginseng as an alternative therapy. However, seniors should talk with a doctor before using any herbals or supplements.
When diet and exercise don’t work well on their own, medical procedures such as non-invasive laser treatments and injections into the pancreas are sometimes used in seniors with diabetes in extreme cases. In addition, surgery might be necessary for seniors with diabetes (gastric bypass ).
Why Do Elderly Get Type 2 Diabetes?
There are many reasons seniors get type 2 diabetes. Still, one of the most common is that their body becomes less effective at processing sugar as people age. As a result, the body’s cells become resistant to insulin over time. As a result, blood sugar levels can creep up and cause diabetes.
Other factors that can contribute to type 2 diabetes in seniors include:
- Being overweight or obese
- Having a family history of diabetes
- Having pre-diabetes (a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than average but not high enough to be classified as diabetes)
- Being inactive
- Having high blood pressure or high cholesterol
If you’re concerned that you may be at risk for type 2 diabetes, it’s essential to talk to your doctor about getting tested. Diagnosis is the first important step toward preventing or treating diabetes and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Diet for Elderly Diabetic Patients
There are three forms of diabetes: Type I, Type II, and gestational diabetes. It’s essential to know the difference to treat seniors with this disease properly.
- Type 1 Diabetes Treatment includes lifestyle changes that account for your seniors’ preferences while providing balanced nutrition. These diets should be low in fat and consider caloric intake while maintaining a balance between carbohydrates and fats. Some medications work by lowering blood sugar levels to regulate one’s diet intake while preserving insulin production in seniors who have Type 1 Diabetes.
- Type 2 Diabetes Treatment is quite similar to type 1. However, seniors may get surgery to make their stomachs smaller. A smaller stomach may cause weight loss to be more effortless.
- Gestational Diabetes Treatment includes seniors keeping track of their glucose levels throughout the day. The tracking will help determine if their next meal should consist of additional carbohydrates or whether they need medication that encourages insulin production.
If seniors have been diagnosed with diabetes, they must regularly get physical checkups at least once every three months. Suppose seniors are not under close watch by a physician. In that case, they may be at risk of developing even more severe heart disease and peripheral neuropathy, which can severely impact their quality of life. It’s also helpful to include normal blood sugar levels and good foot care for seniors at risk for diabetes. Especially if seniors are overweight or sedentary (physically inactive), these factors can also lead seniors to develop diabetes.
It’s important to encourage seniors to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity cardiovascular exercise per week. In addition, be aware of your seniors’ caloric intake by tracking how many calories they should consist in their diet every day while staying active. Finally, seniors must always eat a healthy balanced meal while getting regular physical exams. Physical exams from their doctor should occur at least once every three months to keep an eye on any developing health concerns.
What is the Normal Blood Sugar Level for Seniors?
After not eating for around eight hours, normal blood sugar levels are below 100 mg/dL in the average senior. They should be less than 140 mg/dL after eating.
When consuming carbohydrates, blood sugar levels will rise because they enter the bloodstream circulation. When you eat carbohydrates, the digestive tract releases insulin from the pancreas, allowing cells to utilize the carbs for energy. Excess insulin or prolonged starvation may have caused hypoglycemia in the elderly. When the body’s energy reserves fall below a certain threshold, it shuts down.
The blood sugar levels below 70 mg/dL are known as hypoglycemic degrees. Seniors that frequently have hyperglycemia often have diabetes. In this situation, their bodies may no longer make insulin (type 1 diabetes) or effectively utilize insulin for energy (type 2 diabetes). Maintaining blood sugar levels in a normal range is critical because high blood sugar levels can harm various organs over time. Before meals, blood sugar levels should be between 70 and 130 mg/dL.
What Kind of Food Should Diabetics Avoid?
Seniors with diabetes should avoid foods high in sugar and carbohydrates. These include sugary drinks, candy, cake, cookies, and other sweets. In addition, seniors should avoid processed foods, such as white bread, white pasta, and fried foods. Instead, opt for healthier choices like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. In the American diet, sugar-sweetened drinks constitute a significant source of added sugar. Therefore, high sugar drinks should avoid them as much as possible. Instead, seniors with diabetes should stick to water, seltzer, or other non-sugary beverages.
Trans fats are not only harmful to your heart, but they may also cause a slew of other health problems. For example, included health risks are a more significant risk for diabetes in seniors. Margarine is a common source of trans fats. Stick to cooking with healthy fats instead, such as olive oil and canola oil. Trans fat is also in fried foods from restaurants or fast-food chains, so seniors should choose their meals wisely when eating out.
On the other hand, seniors with diabetes should eat plenty of fruits and vegetables each day. These foods reduce the risk of diabetes in seniors. They’re generally low in calories and high in vitamins and nutrients. When preparing a meal at home, seniors should use a nonstick skillet or a saucepan that contains no added oils or butter. Instead of sauces high in sugar or fat, use spices to flavor your food.
It would help if you also chose whole-grain loaves of bread and pasta as opposed to those containing refined carbohydrates, such as white bread and white rice. Because whole grains take longer to digest, they keep elders fuller for extended periods. As a result, white loaves of bread and pasta may appear healthier than those made from refined grains. Still, they raise blood sugar levels more quickly than their counterparts, so seniors should monitor how often they eat these types of foods. Also, opt for whole-grain cereals and oatmeal over those made from refined grains.
Sugar-free doesn’t mean carb-free! Dessert is okay every once in a while. But be mindful that even if it’s sugar-free, it may still contain carbohydrates. It’s also important to pay attention to the serving size when eating desserts. For example, one cupcake doesn’t equal one serving, so seniors with diabetes should consider splitting desserts or choose a healthier alternative to satiate their sweet tooth.
Key Takeaways
It may be challenging to figure out which foods to avoid when diabetes. However, following a few guidelines might make it simpler. Your primary objectives should include avoiding harmful fats, liquid sugars, processed grains, and other meals containing refined carbohydrates. In addition, preventing high-glycemic foods and promoting insulin resistance may help you stay healthy and minimize your risk of future diabetes problems.
