As our population ages, more and more people are developing long-term diseases like diabetes. Unfortunately, diabetes can happen along with other health problems, which makes things more complicated and creates a perfect storm of health problems. What health problems can make things even more dangerous for adults who already have diabetes? Continue reading to learn more, then loved ones, seniors, and the senior home care team should work together to ensure seniors have everything they need.
Conditions to Watch For When Seniors Are Already Struggling With Diabetes
While there are several things to monitor when seniors are diagnosed with diabetes, watching for signs they’re also at risk for other conditions is crucial. Some of the conditions the senior home care team and loved ones should be mindful of are listed below.
Heart Disease and Strokes: Seniors with diabetes are more likely to have heart illnesses like heart attacks and strokes. Plaque can build up in the arteries because of diabetes, which can lead to atherosclerosis and poor blood flow. Having both diabetes and heart disease can greatly increase the risk of serious consequences, so seniors need to take good care of both conditions.
Chronic Kidney Disease: Diabetes is one reason why people may get chronic kidney disease (CKD). Diabetes can make it harder for the kidneys to do their job of filtering junk out of the blood over time. Seniors with diabetes should keep a close eye on their kidney health because CKD can get worse over time and cause kidney failure if it is not treated.
Nerve Damage: Damage to the nerves that send messages from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body is called peripheral neuropathy. It is a common problem that can happen to people with diabetes. Some seniors may feel tingling, stiffness, or pain in their limbs. This condition can make it even harder to move around and raise the risk of falling, which is very bad for older people’s health generally.
Vision Problems: Diabetic retinopathy is a well-known consequence of diabetes that affects the eyes. People over 65 who have diabetes are more likely to have eye problems, including going blind. To stop or slow the development of diabetic retinopathy, it is important to get regular eye exams and keep an eye on your blood sugar levels.
Osteoporosis: Older people with diabetes may also be more likely to get osteoporosis, a disease that makes bones weak. Diabetes can change the mass and quality of bones, making them more likely to break. People over 65 with diabetes can improve their bone health with the right nutrition, weight-bearing exercises, and annual checkups.
Monitoring diabetes in older people can be hard enough, requiring a complete and all-around plan that includes the senior home care team and loved ones. When concerns about other health conditions are added in, the importance of health monitoring in general becomes even more significant. Seniors can improve their quality of life and lower their risk of complications from diabetes by taking care of all the different parts of their health that are linked, and their support team is part of that success.
Sources: https://diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/newly-diagnosed/health-checks-people-with-diabetes
https://www.healthinaging.org/tools-and-tips/tip-sheet-managing-complications-diabetes-later-life
If you or an aging loved one are considering Senior Home Care Services in Lexington OH, please get in touch with the caring staff at Central Star Home Health today. Call 419-756-9449
Central Star Home Health is a Trusted Home Care Agency in Ohio including Ashland, Bellville, Bucyrus, Crestline, Galion, Lexington, Mansfield, Marion, Mt. Vernon, Ontario, Shelby, and Willard.
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