Diabetes is a medical condition that occurs when your body is unable to regulate blood sugar levels in your body. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, is needed by your body to facilitate the transfer of glucose from food to your cells. If your body doesn’t make enough insulin, you’ll have high amounts of glucose in your bloodstream.
Due to unregulated blood glucose levels, people with diabetes will experience peaks and dips in energy level when their blood sugar becomes too high or too low. Having very high or low blood glucose levels over a prolonged period of time can cause health complications and lead to diseases such as heart disease, stroke, kidney problems, and glaucoma. The possibility of contracting such health problems increases with age. As such, diabetes management is important at every stage to reduce the associated health risks that come from living with this chronic condition.
Lower Risk of Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
Having diabetes heightens your risk of dementia as you age. Diabetes affects your heart health, which in turn affects your brain health. Having a poor circulatory system means that less oxygen gets supplied to the brain, which can lead to the development of dementia. Scientists have even found that diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease share the same molecular and cellular characteristics! Interestingly, they also discovered that insulin resistance in the brain can lead to the formation of plagues and tangles that are seen in Alzheimer’s disease.
Diabetes management strategies involving lifestyle changes can help reduce diabetes related health risks. These can include choosing a diet low in refined carbohydrates and sugar, maintaining a healthy body weight, and engaging in cardio exercises for at least 30 minutes each day.
Lower Risk of Eye Diseases
Experiencing vision problems is common with age. Some common eye diseases associated with aging include age-related macular degeneration and the development of cataracts. However, if you have diabetes, you are at additional risk of developing eye problems. Some eye conditions that are induced or exacerbated by diabetes include glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, where the vessels that supply blood to the retina are damaged by high blood pressure caused by diabetes.
To lower your risk of eye diseases, it is especially important to constantly monitor your blood sugar level and blood pressure level, keeping them in your target range. Serious and long term problems such as vision loss can be prevented as long as they are detected and treated in time.
Receive the Best Care in Our Active Independent Living Community
Being in a healthy living environment and having support is key to diabetes management. In our retirement community, we offer the best senior living programs for active independent living. Our programs include Sensations Dining, where healthy and nutritious meals are served to improve health and appeal to tastebuds, and Dimensions Health and Wellness, which keeps the minds and bodies of our residents engaged with exercise classes and educational programs. Contact us today to learn more about our retirement community!
