Diabetes is a chronic condition characterized by high blood glucose (blood sugar) levels due to the body’s inability to produce or respond to insulin, a hormone needed to convert sugar, starches, and other food into energy needed for life.
There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1, which is where the body does not make insulin; Type 2, which is when the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells do not respond appropriately to it; and Pre-diabetes, which means a person has blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not high enough to be reversed.
Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. On the other hand, Type 2 diabetes occurs in people in middle-age and older adults who are overweight and inactive or have a family history of diabetes.
Diabetes is among the most widespread health problems in the elderly, with the American Diabetes Association indicating that 1 in 4 people aged 65 and older are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. However, even when statistics on diabetes are alarming, many people are unaware they have diabetes as the disease in itself does not cause any symptoms.
Consequently, the symptoms experienced by people with diabetes often result from the conditions caused by diabetes, such as high blood sugar levels. Among the symptoms associated with diabetes are: excessive thirst, frequent urination, slow-healing wounds, unusual weight loss, extreme hunger, extreme fatigue and irritability, and tingling of hands and feet.
People with diabetes are more likely to get serious complications, such as heart disease, neuropathy, foot problems, dementia, kidney failure. Therefore, they must properly manage it to protect themselves and prevent it from happening.
Many Connecticut families hire a home care agency that provides home care assistance in CT as managing diabetes can be a tedious task, particularly for seniors with diabetes. Accordingly, availing senior care can help people with disabilities or diagnosed with degenerative diseases, such as diabetes, get the assistance they need through skilled nursing and physical therapy.
Hourly Caregivers West Hartford CT can also help them maintain healthy blood sugar levels by keeping a daily record of blood sugar readings and medicine schedule, encouraging them to exercise and promote eating well-balanced and nutritious meals. Additionally, caregivers can also encourage good personal care for seniors, promoting best practices for oral hygiene and bathing.
Staying on top of changes to health status is crucial for those managing diabetes. Having a proper diabetes management plan, which includes controlling blood sugar and high blood pressure, can help them manage their condition and stay healthy. Here is an infographic from Euro-American Connections & Homecare discusses more on diabetes – what it is, the complications it poses, and what preventive measures to take.
