Understanding Diabetes In Seniors

Understanding Diabetes

It all starts from the food we eat, which our bodies break down into sugar for us to have energy all day long. In order to transform glucose into energy, we also need insulin or the hormone that is responsible for allowing glucose to enter into the cells. For people with diabetes, it will be hard to produce insulin, or even when they do produce enough of it, they may no longer be able to use it the right way. This is the reason why glucose is stored in the blood, thus resulting in diabetes. When your loved one has it, a doctor will refer you to a specialist, preferably an endocrinologist.

The Two Main Types

There are two types of diabetes that you must take note of. One is called Type 1 Diabetes, which can also develop in older adults, but is most common in young adults and children. These individuals will have them for life. With this type, the body completely does not make insulin, thus the condition.

It is Type 2 Diabetes where the body seems to not be making use of the insulin that it produces. It occurs in middle-aged and older adults, but may also affect younger ones. You are at risk of developing one when you live a sedentary life, have a family history of the condition, or are overweight. Those who suffer gestational diabetes when they were pregnant will most likely develop this type later in life.

Diabetes And Its Association With COVID-19

COVID-19 puts older adults at risk, and when they have diabetes, it is more likely that they will have the severe type of COVID-19. That is why older adults are advised to stay at home when they already have diabetes to prevent them from contracting the virus. If you worry about leaving your loved ones at home because of the condition, then you can always use nurse care management services, where a registered nurse can look after your family members and visit them from time to time. They can remind them about their medications as well.

Testing for Diabetes

For those of you who are worried that your loved ones have diabetes, you can always visit a health care provider so that they can perform blood tests to diagnose the condition. There are plenty of tests your doctors can administer, among them are the oral glucose tolerance test, random plasma glucose test, and fasting plasma glucose test. The patient needs to be tested twice to confirm the results.

When you know that your loved one needs care for their diabetes and you do not have so much time to be there for them, you can always use home care services. That way, the caregiver will be there to prepare food for them, assist them when doing their exercises, or simply help them track their glucose levels. This will give you an assurance that they are in good condition all the time.