Seniors and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
12/10/2013
Type 2 Diabetes: The Risk Increases with Age
As we age, our risk for developing type 2 diabetes increases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one-third of all cases of diagnosed diabetes occur in people aged 65 and older, and nearly 11 million individuals in that age group have diabetes. But what is diabetes and what can we do to prevent it? Type 2 diabetes, formerly called adult-onset diabetes or non-insulin-dependent diabetes, is the most common form of diabetes. People can develop it at any age — even during childhood. This form of diabetes usually begins with insulin resistance, a condition in which the body does not use insulin properly. At first, the pancreas keeps up with the added demand by producing more insulin. In time, however, it loses the ability to secrete enough insulin in response to meals. “[The elderly are] a particularly vulnerable group because diabetes can lead to chronic conditions — such as heart disease and kidney disease — that can be fatal,” says Patricia Buss, M.D., Medical and Health Care Services Operations officer for Health Net. Other complications of diabetes can include stroke, hypertension, blindness, nervous system disease and amputations, according to the CDC. Additionally, according to a study published in 2012 in Diabetes & Metabolism Journal, the elderly face additional diabetes-related challenges, including depression, muscle weakness, falls and fractures, and physical frailty. Another study, published in 2012 in Therapeutic Advances in Endocrinology and Metabolism, said type 2 diabetes in older people is associated with higher risk of both vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Because of the prevalence of diabetes in older individuals, Buss said they should carefully review their medical coverage. “Health Net, for example, offers a Medicare Advantage special needs plan called Jade that’s designed to help seniors manage their diabetes and decrease the risk of developing conditions like heart disease.” Prevention and Early Detection is Key According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease. The National Diabetes Education Risk of type 2 diabetes increases for those who have one or more of the following characteristics:- Getting little or no exercise
- Being overweight by 20 pounds or more
- Having a family member with type 2 diabetes
- Being older than 45
- Giving birth to a baby weighing more than nine pounds
- Having gestational diabetes during a pregnancy
- Being African American, Hispanic American, Native American, Asian American, or of Pacific-Islander descent
- Urinating often
- Feeling very thirsty
- Feeling very hungry – even though you are eating
- Extreme fatigue
- Blurry vision
- Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
- Tingling, pain or numbness in the hands/feet
- Eating a Healthy Diet Choose foods high in vitamins, minerals and fibers, as well as those that are low in fat, salt and sugar. A balanced daily diet should include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat or nonfat dairy products, lean meats, poultry and fish.
- Exercising Regularly Engage in physical activity for 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Suggested activities include walking, dancing, swimming, gardening, aerobics and cycling.