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It is estimated that over 2 million Canadians have diabetes and of these, one third are undiagnosed. Nine out of ten people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Seniors represent almost 48% of the total number of people with the disease, and this number is expected to rise as Canada's population continues to age. What are the warning signs?Many people have diabetes for years before they're diagnosed. This is especially true for older adults, whose symptoms can be slight or not apparent at all. Symptoms include:
Many people who have diabetes may have none of these symptoms. They may also occur in people who don't have diabetes.
Who is at risk?Some risk factors for diabetes cannot be altered. For example, you're at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes if:
You can, however, control certain other risk factors through lifestyle changes that include:
Making these changes can also help you to:
What is type 2 diabetes?Insulin is produced by the body to transform sugar into energy. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body no longer produces enough insulin, or has difficulty using the insulin it produces, causing sugar to build up in the blood. Over time, this damages your blood vessels and nerves and can result in severe complications including:
Minimizing the risk...No matter how old you are, and even if you have other risk factors, you can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes by making a few simple, healthy lifestyle changes:
Adopting these changes can make a world of difference to your health, your independence and your quality of life, no matter what your age and condition. Eat well! Diet is an extremely important part of preventing and treating not only diabetes, but a number of other diseases associated with aging. For many seniors, changing lifetime eating habits can seem like a daunting task. Yet it can be fun! Look at making the needed changes to your diet as an adventure. Learn to cook again. Prepare old dishes in new ways. Discover foods and combinations you never dreamed of trying! Based on Canada's Food Guide To Healthy Eating, here are some guidelines to help you prevent or delay diabetes symptoms:
Be active! Studies suggest that physical activity can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by 50%. Start slowly... and build up gradually! Try to accumulate 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity into your daily routine, in periods of at least 10 minutes each. You might already be closer to this goal than you think! Here are a few suggestions:
Always consult your physician before embarking on any new physical activity program. Canada's Physical Activity Guide for Older Adults is a useful tool for developing an appropriate exercise program (see For more information... for ordering information). If your problem is motivation, try registering for a class in your community. Or attach a pedometer to your waistbelt to record the number of steps you take daily, and challenge yourself to increase this number every day. Regular activity helps reduce your risk of diabetes and improve your overall physical, emotional and social well being. You've been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes?Diabetes is a self-help disease. If you've already been diagnosed with diabetes, progression is controllable by following medical advice and a healthier lifestyle. Don't fear the unknown – learn as much as you can about managing your diabetes by talking to your doctor or diabetes educator. You can also contact a number of organizations such as the Canadian Diabetes Association, that can provide excellent tools to help you cope with diabetes and adopt and stick to a healthy lifestyle. Take care... By controlling your blood sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol levels, you will prevent or significantly delay the damage that uncontrolled diabetes causes to your body's blood vessels. You will also need to take special care in certain areas: Foot care: diabetes can lower blood supply to the limbs and reduce feeling in the feet. Check your feet every day and watch for any redness or patches. Sores, blisters, breaks in the skin, infections or callus buildup should be reported right away to a podiatrist or family doctor. Skin care: because people with diabetes may have more injuries and infections, it's important to keep skin clean, use skin softeners and take care of minor cuts and bruises. Teeth and gums: advise your dentist that you have diabetes and schedule regular checkups. Your teeth and gums need special attention to avoid serious infections. Eyes: advise your eye care specialist that you have diabetes and schedule eye exams according to the professional recommendation. Your eyes need special attention to alert you to any significant changes due to your condition.
For more information...To order Canada's Physical Activity Guide for Older Adults: To order Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating: Active Living Coalition for Older Adults Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging Canadian Diabetes Association Canadian Ethnocultural Council Canadian Health Network Canadian Pensioners Concerned Diabète Québec Dietitians of Canada National Aboriginal Diabetes Association Public Health Agency of Canada Our thanks to the Canadian Diabetes Association, the Canadian Diabetes Strategy and other diabetes organizations for their contribution to this info-sheet. Division of Aging and Seniors This info-sheet is available in alternative formats on demand. Cat. no. H30-11/8-4E |
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