Diabetes is a disease that is increasingly common and affects more than 24 million Americans. Those who are over the age of 55 are at increased risk of getting diabetes and almost ½ of all cases of Diabetes are diagnosed in people who are 55 or older.

In all people diabetes is a disease that can affect how efficiently your body uses insulin and how much it produces. There are several symptoms of diabetes, such as frequent urination, increased thirst, blurry vision, and slow healing wounds, but for many the onset of the symptoms is gradual, so they go unnoticed. For seniors, the symptoms, like blurry vision or increased fatigue, are things that occur with age, so they might not realize that they have diabetes until they become seriously ill.

Testing for diabetes is something that can and should be done at all ages, but people who are over 40 should begin regularly scheduled tests. This is because almost 20% of all people who are over 60 have diabetes and beginning at age 40, you are at increased risk.

For seniors, the treatment of diabetes can present several problems. Often if the senior does not drive, then it can become difficult to make it to the doctor. Things like memory loss and poor sight can also complicate the treatment of diabetes.

Part of the treatment of diabetes usually involves regularly testing your blood sugar levels. If blood sugar is too low or high, then there are special medicines that should be administered. Seniors with memory loss might not be able to consistently remember to test their blood sugar and take their medicine as scheduled.

Poor vision can make the treatment more difficult in several ways. Cuts and wounds are much slower to heal for those that have diabetes. A foot ulcer, which is an open sore, is in many ways the most dangerous to an individual with diabetes and if un-treated can lead to amputation. It is important to inspect your feet and the rest of your body for cuts or sores, because in order to be treated, they must be caught quickly.

Seniors who have limited vision often are unable to visually inspect their body, so must rely on feel, to feel their body for cuts or sores. This can make inspecting the feet difficult as many are unable to bend that far. Sometimes due to reduced sensitivity of the fingers, cuts and wounds are also missed.

Another important part of treating diabetes is maintaining a well regulated diet. This means eating the right foods at the right time. Often seniors have difficulty not only remembering to eat, but also following a diabetic menu. Most cities offer services to seniors and can bring them food on a regular basis, so this is often the best choice.

Exercise is another factor that is very important for properly treating diabetes, but getting motivated and following a workout plan is not always easy. Most cities host senior workout groups and this can be a good activity, both mentally and as a means of treating diabetes. Many pools also offer water exercise programs, which are a safe and fun way to exercise.

Seniors face some addition difficulties when diagnosing and treating diabetes. Understanding these difficulties is the first step in dealing with and maintaining a healthy lifestyle after being diagnosed with diabetes.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Wynler

Diabetes is a disease that affects many millions of people all over the world. It can usually be successfully treated and in most cases, individuals are able to lead healthy lives, but it is important to properly diagnose diabetes as quickly as possible.

What is Diabetes

There are two main types of diabetes, but they both affect the way that the body produces and uses insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas and is used by the body to turn food, like sugar, into energy. In Type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce enough insulin and this means that your blood sugar is not properly handled. Type 2 diabetes, is distinguished by a resistance to the effects of insulin, but, like Type 1 diabetes, and also involves a reduction in the amount of insulin produced by the pancreas.

Symptoms

Knowing and recognizing the symptoms of diabetes are very important, because an un-diagnosed case of diabetes can result in death or serious injury. Sluggishness, extreme fatigue, excessive thirst, increased urination, and blurry vision are some of the more common signs of diabetes. Slow healing wounds are also often a characteristic and can result in serious complications, such as amputation, in those affected by diabetes. Usually those that are affected by Type 1 diabetes will notice that the symptoms set in very quickly, often in only a few weeks.

Those that have Type 2 diabetes might not notice the symptoms, because they set in much slower and can often be very subtle. Often in these cases diabetes is not detected until a serious health problem occurs. This includes strokes, heart attacks, foot ulcers, and fungal infections, which are often caused by untreated diabetes. Other conditions, like high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and pancreatitis can also be indications of diabetes.

Treatment

It is a good idea to be screened periodically for diabetes, but for people who are overweight or those that have experienced the symptoms stated above, it is imperative to have a blood screening. There are several different tests, but they generally involve glucose monitoring.

The type of treatment prescribed will vary and depends on the type of diabetes the patient has. Generally those that have Type 1 diabetes use a type of insulin replacement treatment. This involves constant measuring of the blood glucose levels and then injecting insulin as needed. Some people use insulin pumps instead of shots. Insulin pumps are devices that attach to the body and administer doses of insulin automatically.

People who have Type 2 diabetes are generally not able to inject insulin and it is usually dangerous to do so, because their body does not properly use it. Proper diet and exercise, while also important for Type 1 diabetes, is essential for those who have Type 2 diabetes. In large part maintaining a healthy diet and regularly exercising can control Type 2 diabetes. There are also several drugs that are used to increase the bodies absorption of insulin or glucose.

Diabetes is a disease that can, in most cases, be treated, but it is essential to diagnose it as early as possible.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Wynler