Read about the risks of diabetes to the elderly population and how it can negatively impact the quality of life of the over 65’s.
By 2025 over 5 million people in the UK are expected to have diabetes. 1 in 10 people aged 40 and over have diabetes and that figure increases as a person ages.
There are certain factors affecting the elderly that do mean that a senior in the UK might be more at risk from the affects of the disease than a younger person. It is important to understand those risks to ensure better management of the disease for yourself, or loved ones.
Nutritional Factors
Some elderly people struggle with malnourishment because of issues with mental health, or difficulty preparing and cooking, and feeding themselves. For these reasons, usual diet guidelines and calorie intake might not be appropriate for the already underweight.
Physical Activity
Staying active, or being more active, is a recommendation for anybody looking to manage their diabetes. Older people can benefit from being more active in many ways far reaching diabetes management, however, they are likely to need help and guidance in doing so. That could be support from a physiotherapist or at home carer, or the addition of mobility aids that help encourage movement and independence.
Hypoglycemia
An older person may be at risk of hypoglycemia because of issues with nutrition, common illnesses seen in the elderly, kidney problems or diabetes medication issues. A huge problem is that a person may not see that warning symptoms of hypoglycemia and so, may quickly decline into a physical crisis without seeking help.
Mental Health
Mental health issues are prevalent in the elderly and can often go undiagnosed for various reasons. Painful side effects of unmanaged diabetes can make mental health issues worse.
General Illness
Illness can make diabetes worse, and then the worsening diabetes makes the illness worse, causing a cyclical effect that can leave a person with declining health in hospital.
Self Care And Awareness
Ageing may cause issues with self care which can cause nasty medical issues that could be avoided. Missing eye checks or oral health checks can lead to important signs of diabetes or other conditions being missed. Being unable to check the feet for sores that cannot be felt because of diabetes is another potential issue for the elderly. A person may be struggling, and assume their problems are because of old age, when in fact they are signs of diabetes or other manageable health conditions.
The above risks apply to the elderly, and especially those without the right support from carers or medical professionals. Applied care and a keen eye on any medical changes is so important to ensure that diabetes or any other medical issue is diagnosed quickly, and managed long-term. At-home care can be a helpful part of a diabetes management plan, in either preventing the disease or helping to manage it long-term for the best possible health of the client. If you think care at home could be a solution for you, or your loved one, take a look at The Live-In Care Hub and seek out a free care assessment for your local authority as a positive first step.
