Alive65

Heath and Wellness for Seniors

Diabetes and Seniors: A Battle Against the Silent Killer

June 22, 2016 By M Dee Dubroff

June 22, 2016 By: M Dee Dubroff (Edit)

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Diabetes afflicts people of all ages, and living with this disease known as the ‘silent killer,’ is no picnic at any stage in life. While contracting the disease in youth is the worst scenario because it is a progressive malady that requires extreme diligence and care, as an older person it presents its own set of problems and directives. It is estimated that in the Unites States today, about one in every four people over the age of sixty is a diabetic. Each year, approximately 1.3 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed, with type 1 diabetes representing about 5% of the cases and type 2 accounting for 90-95%.

What is the difference between Diabetes 1 and Diabetes 2?

Type 1 diabetes usually occurs in people under the age of 20 and is characterized by the body’s inability to produce insulin. With type 2, daily medications aid the insulin that is produced but is unable to circulate through the body, a condition known as insulin resistance. Diabetes in seniors can be very problematic because it can result in loss of vision, kidney failure, heart and artery blockage and sometimes the amputation of a limb.

Myths surrounding diabetes:

Despite the fact that diabetes has reached epidemic proportions, there is still much misinformation and considerable stigma surrounding its causes. Most people associate obesity with the onset of the disease, and assume that all fat people either are or will become diabetic. This is only partially true, as obesity is just one of a string of predetermined conditions, and many overweight people are not diabetic. Diabetes has a genetic component as well, and while your genes do not positively dictate that you will contract diabetes, they do indicate a predisposition to the disease.

Other myths include:

1. Diabetes is not a serious disease.
2. Diabetics must eat special foods and not just “healthy” foods.
3. Diabetics can’t eat sweets or chocolate.
4. Diabetes is contagious.
5. Diabetics can eat as much fruit as they want.
6. People with diabetes are more susceptible to colds and other illnesses.

Diabetes and senior citizens:

In many instances, seniors with diabetes have specific problems because they have co-existing medical conditions that can make their care more complicated and subject them to unwanted side effects from necessary medications. Also, a great number of older people are less likely to seek and receive proper counseling concerning diet and lifestyle.

One of the worst aspects of diabetes when it affects seniors is the fact that it is often not diagnosed for many years because tell-tale symptoms don’t appear until long after the disease has gained a foothold in the body. These can include; extreme thirst, frequent urination, sudden weight loss or gain; flu-like fatigue and blurred vision.

What to do if you are diagnosed with diabetes?

First, you must accept the diagnosis and educate yourself about this disease. Knowledge is the most forceful weapon against its power to destroy your organs and the quality of your life. Take a deep breath and face it. You have a disease. Now what?

Most hospitals offer free seminars for those who are newly diagnosed. They usually run for one to two days and are very helpful in understanding what you are dealing with. Bring along a loving friend or relative and a notebook because there is so much to learn that your brain will not be able to wrap around all of it at once.

Armed with your new knowledge, evaluate your lifestyle and food choices. You will need to make some changes in both and you must accept that. In the past, this diagnosis was a death sentence, but today so much more is known about the disease and treatments that a normal life is possible, albeit alterations in diet and daily routines will be necessary.

So face the dawn, no matter how dark the sky. There is hope and there is help. Remember the fiery words of singer, Patti La Belle, who captured the fighting spirit needed to battle this terrible disease with her powerful words:

I have diabetes, but diabetes doesn’t have me. ~Patti La Belle

 

Sources:

http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/seniors/

http://www.aplaceformom.com/senior-care-resources/articles/type-2-diabetes-in-seniors

http://spectrum.diabetesjournals.org/content/19/4/221.full

http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/myths/#sthash.D3mXde4s.dpuf

Share:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: diabetes, Disease, Top Stories Tagged With: diabetes, diabetes myths, senior diabetes, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes

About M Dee Dubroff

Marjorie Dorfman, also known as M Dee Dubroff, is a freelance writer and former teacher originally from Brooklyn, New York. A graduate of New York University School of Education, she now lives in Doylestown, PA . Originally a writer of ghostly and horror fiction, she has branched out into the world of humorous non-fiction writing . Many of her stories have been published in various small presses throughout the country during the last twenty years. She has written two books, A Taste of Funny, which is available both as an e-book and a paperback, and a book of stories, Tales For A Dark And Rainy Night. She maintains seven websites all of which can be accessed at www.ingestandimbibe.com. Her passion is the written word and she writes every day of her life with no plans to stop, even after death.

Connect With Me : Website

Like us on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Popular on Alive65

New on Alive65

  • More on Late in Life Parenting
  • How to Exercise Your Mind
  • How to Prevent and Banish Age Spots
  • Late in Life Parenting
  • Dating Tips for Boomers

© 2025 ·MAR Base

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Guidelines for Advertisers
  • Guidelines for Writers
  • Contributor Login
  • Credits
  • Contact Alive65
A Publication of Website Development & Marketing Strategy.
185 AJK Boulevard, Suite #201 | Lewisburg, PA 17837 | 215-253-3737
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.Ok