Managing Diabetes as Part of Senior Care

Diabetes is a disease that affects the way the body processes food, especially sugar. Many seniors have a form of diabetes, which can become serious if it isn’t managed. Let’s cover the basic facts about diabetes prevention and management.

There are two types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. While type 2 is much more common, especially among aging adults, type 1 diabetes can also affect seniors.

Type 1 diabetes is chronic and unpreventable. It is diagnosed with a blood test and checked on through regular blood tests. Type 1 diabetes may require regular insulin injections or a pump.

Caregivers of seniors with type 1 diabetes should pay particular attention to symptoms of hypoglycemia and take care to help seniors manage their disease as parts of aging, like memory loss or lack of routine, increase the difficulty of maintaining a healthy state.

Type 2 diabetes is also chronic, but it is sometimes preventable. It is diagnosed with a blood test and checked on through periodic blood sugar tests. This type of diabetes can often be managed by lifestyle and diet changes. In some cases, medication is part of type 2 diabetes management.

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Seniors are at greater risk of type 2 diabetes if they:

 • Are over 65 years old

 • Are overweight

 • Have a family history of diabetes

 • Are sedentary

 • Had gestational diabetes while pregnant

Seniors should be screened for diabetes at annual appointments and ask their doctor for blood tests if symptoms develop.