Challenges of Treating Diabetes in Seniors

Diabetes is a disease that is increasingly common and affects more than 24 million Americans. Those who are over the age of 55 are at increased risk of getting diabetes and almost 1/2 of all cases of Diabetes are diagnosed in people who are 55 or older.

In all people diabetes is a disease that can affect how efficiently your body uses insulin and how much it produces. There are several symptoms of diabetes, such as frequent urination, increased thirst, blurry vision, and slow healing wounds, but for many the onset of the symptoms is gradual, so they go unnoticed. For seniors, the symptoms, like blurry vision or increased fatigue, are things that occur with age, so they might not realize that they have diabetes until they become seriously ill.

Testing for diabetes is something that can and should be done at all ages, but people who are over 40 should begin regularly scheduled tests. This is because almost 20% of all people who are over 60 have diabetes and beginning at age 40, you are at increased risk.

For seniors, the treatment of diabetes can present several problems. Often if the senior does not drive, then it can become difficult to make it to the doctor. Things like memory loss and poor sight can also complicate the treatment of diabetes.

Part of the treatment of diabetes usually involves regularly testing your blood sugar levels. If blood sugar is too low or high, then there are special medicines that should be administered. Seniors with memory loss might not be able to consistently remember to test their blood sugar and take their medicine as scheduled.

Poor vision can make the treatment more difficult in several ways. Cuts and wounds are much slower to heal for those that have diabetes. A foot ulcer, which is an open sore, is in many ways the most dangerous to an individual with diabetes and if un-treated can lead to amputation. It is important to inspect your feet and the rest of your body for cuts or sores, because in order to be treated, they must be caught quickly.

Seniors who have limited vision often are unable to visually inspect their body, so must rely on feel, to feel their body for cuts or sores. This can make inspecting the feet difficult as many are unable to bend that far. Sometimes due to reduced sensitivity of the fingers, cuts and wounds are also missed.

Another important part of treating diabetes is maintaining a well regulated diet. This means eating the right foods at the right time. Often seniors have difficulty not only remembering to eat, but also following a diabetic menu. Most cities offer services to seniors and can bring them food on a regular basis, so this is often the best choice.

Exercise is another factor that is very important for properly treating diabetes, but getting motivated and following a workout plan is not always easy. Most cities host senior workout groups and this can be a good activity, both mentally and as a means of treating diabetes. Many pools also offer water exercise programs, which are a safe and fun way to exercise.

Seniors face some addition difficulties when diagnosing and treating diabetes. Understanding these difficulties is the first step in dealing with and maintaining a healthy lifestyle after being diagnosed with diabetes.



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