What You Need to Know About Diabetes and Aging

Don't Put Your Health at Risk

Diabetes is a serious medical condition that requires active management and treatment.  As we age, the management of the disease only becomes more vital in order to ensure that patients maintain a high quality of life and happiness.

An estimated 33% of Americans ages 65 and older have diabetes, and if you are one of them, there are important factors to seriously consider.  Diabetes is serious, and the risks associated with the illness only become more severe with age, but you should remember that treatment and management are still effective throughout your life.

Let’s go over some things to keep in mind about diabetes as you get older and the steps that you can take to manage the disease effectively.

Reinvest in Lifestyle Changes

As you get older it can be perilously easy to let management plans fall by the wayside.  Lifestyle changes such as a commitment to a healthy diet and regular exercise are some of the most effective ways to manage diabetes, and unfortunately they are some of the easiest to neglect.

As you age, it’s important to find forms of exercise that you enjoy and can perform comfortably and consistently.  Meet friends and family at a park and take a walk a few times a week.  Water aerobics are great exercise and are easy on joints and muscles.  Whether it’s cycling, hiking, or team sports, adhering to the exercise targets set by your endocrinologist and physicians will help to ensure that you maintain a high quality of life.

Likewise, eating a healthy diet rich in whole, unprocessed foods and avoiding sugar and alcohol is remarkably effective, even as you age.  Remind yourself that reaching the goals in your treatment plan is even more important now than it was at the time of your diagnosis and recognize the need to reinvest in your lifestyle changes if you’ve found your recent vigilance lacking.

Prioritize Your Mental Health

Mental illness affects millions of Americans, and older adults who have diabetes are at a higher risk for depression and cognitive impairment.  Though as a society we’ve made a lot of important progress in the treatment of mental illness and the lessening of the stigma thereof, mental health is exceedingly difficult for many older people to talk about.

Pay close attention to your mood, follow the advice of your healthcare provider and seek treatment if you think you might not be in a very good place mentally.

Pay Close Attention to Your Overall Health

As previously mentioned, diabetes treatment is effective in delaying or preventing the more serious complications associated with diabetes, but as you age treatment requires increasing vigilance.

Some studies have indicated that as many as 60% of older people with type-2 diabetes have at least one other comorbid health condition.  Though they may or may not be directly related to diabetes, the illness can have serious detrimental effects on other aspects of your overall health. 

Along with your standard monitoring of blood glucose levels, you should closely monitor other aspects of your physical health with the guidance of a healthcare professional.  People with diabetes are at increased risk for developing diseases of the eye, gums, nervous and cardiovascular systems, and kidneys.

Doctor appointments are not very high on most people’s list of favorite things to do, but it is essential to keep yourself and your physicians informed about your condition.

It May Be Time for New Treatment

As is to be expected, as you age your treatment plan will likely change.  This may include new lifestyle guidelines, medications, or monitoring practices.  People with type-2 diabetes who did not previously need insulin injections might require them, and more robust blood glucose tracking might become necessary.

Whatever may be the case, we encourage you to fully follow the advice of your physician and endocrinologist.  If new hardware or medications become necessary, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.  Aging with diabetes can be challenging, but we are one of many groups who are here to help.