Type 2 Diabetes for Seniors (I)

by Alexandria Marx
Diabetes is a serious medical condition for seniors. The World Health Organization reports that 200 million men and women worldwide have been diagnosed with diabetes.

If you want to know the repercussions of Type 2 diabetes for seniors, first let me explain. There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 is a sudden onset type, and Type 2 is more gradual often referred to as slow-onset diabetes, because it presents itself over the course of several years.

Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed when there is recurring elevated levels of blood sugar.

There are three facts everyone should know about Type 2 diabetes, but especially those over the age of 55:

1) What are the affects of uncontrolled diabetes
2) Why Type 2 diabetes is dangerous for seniors
3) Why the age of diabetes adds to the problem

What are the Affects of Uncontrolled Diabetes

Diabetes is not harmless. Uncontrolled diabetes can have severe, life-threatening complications. Here's why.

Uncontrolled diabetes often causes complications to a person's vital organs, such as kidney failure, heart problems, possible blindness and damage to nerves (neuropathy).

Diabetes patients over 55 years old are prone to develop coronary heart disease and stroke! The risk of dying from a heart attack is higher for those who have neuropathy, because a heart attack might feel painless and therefore not recognized. When this happens, the patient doesn't even know they should seek medical assistance. Disaster follows.

Seniors who survive the repercussions from one or more diabetes complications may find themselves in financial difficulties if they don't have adequate health insurance or medicare with supplemental insurance.

Diabetes is generally identified by a simple test that shows an excessively high blood sugar level. Glucose… defined by the dictionary as a syrup containing dextrose, maltose, and dextrine, obtained by the incomplete hydrolysis of starch in the body. In other words, food is consumed, digested and released into blood in a form known as glucose. The purpose is to provide you with energy. When a person has an excess of glucose, a hormone called insulin converts and stores glucose in the body for future usage.

Uncontrolled blood glucose leads to symptoms such as frequent urination, ongoing thirst, unexpected weight loss, intense hunger, frequent fatigue and more. Since many senior citizens consider these symptoms a normal part of growing old, they are not concerned and do not seek medical attention.

Uncontrolled diabetes patients may become comatose due to very high blood glucose. This is a major concern for seniors because many seniors live alone or are alone for most of the day.

Cholesterol and blood vessel thickening (atherosclerosis) are common complications of Type 2 diabetes. Diabetics may also suffer from high blood pressure caused from atherosclerosis. This presents a bunch more health problems.
(to be continued)