CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Diabetes has a disproportionate effect on older adults. It can be a debilitating disease that adversely affects the body’s functionality over time, and it is vital to understand how to properly manage it if you do.
About 25% of people over the age of 65 living in the United States have diabetes, and although it can be hard to manage, there are some simple things than can be done to treat the disease and improve overall health.
“One of the benefits of a community like Primrose is the availability of nursing staff and nutrition specialists to support and guide you as you make decisions,” said Aubrey Brown, sales director for Primrose of Washington. “We are here for you, not only in the dining room and at meal times, but also to support your sleep habits and to provide creative and fun ways to get that exercise and movement back into your day.”
Eat healthy
As we age, it becomes harder for our bodies to maintain a good balance of nutrients. This can lead to moments of low blood sugar. This can happen without diabetes, but having the disease can further complicate these types of episodes – leading to problems with mobility, confusion and excess fatigue.
Simply adopting a well-balanced diet can lead to improvements in health almost immediately. Natural foods like fruits and vegetables, and proteins that come in eggs, meats and dairy, are much better for the body than processed foods and sweets.
Exercise
Physical exercise is beneficial to everyone, regardless of age, but for seniors with diabetes, it is especially important. An important thing to remember when making your exercise plan is that consistency is key. A low-impact exercise, like walking, several days a week is more beneficial to your body than a strenuous workout once or twice a week that could lead to injury.
Communicate
If you notice changes in your body, like sores that are not healing or an intense feeling of thirst or fatigue, tell someone. Nobody likes to go to the doctor, but when you have diabetes it is important to keep the lines of communication open.
Developing the right treatment plan and maintaining your system of support will go a long way toward making your diabetes manageable. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
“Waiting until your annual visit with your doctor to ask a question may put you at risk, but daily check-ins with our clinical team can keep hard-to-detect changes from going unnoticed,” said Dana Talbot, executive director of Primrose of Washington. “Routine conversations with your Primrose caregivers will give you the advantage and peace of mind that you deserve.”
If you or a loved one are living with diabetes and have questions about how senior living might be able to help, Primrose would be honored to visit with you. Visit PrimroseRetirement.com for more information.
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Resources
- Primrose Retirement Communities | Address: 5190 S. Washington Fields Road, Washington City | Telephone: 435-256-8236 | Website.
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