Diabetes in Senior Citizens
Diabetes is one of the most common diseases with which a very large number of senior citizens are suffering.
Our body gets glucose from the food we eat, and the blood is the transport system that makes the glucose reach every part of the body.
If the level of glucose is increased too much, it can cause diabetes.
Is there not a feedback control system working in our body?
There is a hormone called insulin which acts as the counterbalance for the increased level of glucose.
It makes the cells take the glucose so that there is no extra amount left in the blood. Thus the blood glucose level does not increase.
There may be two reasons for the deficiency of insulin in our body, and they are either that the insulin amount is not enough, or the insulin is in the body but it is not performing as it is supposed to.
In both cases, one needs to take insulin through artificial methods. Diabetes in senior citizens is generally type II diabetes.
What is the difference between type I and type II?
Type I diabetes is more common in children or in adults where the insulin-producing pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin.
Beta cells present in the pancreas produce insulin, which is destroyed by the immune system.
Type II can occur at any age.
Insulin is in the body, but the body starts developing resistance against insulin because the cells do not function properly with the insulin.
Diabetes can’t be cured and can only be maintained. Diabetes in senior citizens can be prevented by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Those people who are at risk can try these tips.
The first thing which you must keep in your mind is that you must control your body weight.
One needs to be cautious about the extra bodyweight that can increase blood glucose level and thus increases blood pressure.
Obesity also hampers the use of insulin in the body as it’s unable to interact with the cells to take glucose from the bloodstream.
Eating the right food and in the right amount is necessary to get a healthy and fit body, as eating healthy can control blood pressure, blood glucose level, as well as obesity.
Physical activity is necessary to prevent heart disease. You can take a brisk walk, do exercise, or do any other kind of work that helps you to prevent diabetes.
Diabetes in senior citizens is more common in older age groups, and can be controlled by doing some exercises and eating healthy food items.
Senior citizens need to be very careful about their weight if they are suffering from diabetes.
