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November 19, 2019

For American Diabetes Month, learn about potential warning signs and treatment for seniors with type 2 diabetes

It’s inevitable—as we get older, our health begins to change. We often spend our lives focused on caring for those around us, but it’s equally important to care for ourselves, too. Luckily, older Americans are remaining more active and fit longer, engaging in a wider variety of exercises than generations before them. Increased activity and a healthy lifestyle can help combat major diseases like type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes is a serious disease affecting nearly 10 percent of the U.S. adult population (about 30 million people), according to Healthline. It’s a disease that occurs when your blood glucose (or blood sugar) is too high. Type 2 diabetes, specifically, is when the body does not make or use insulin effectively. It is the most common type of diabetes, and chances of getting the disease increase if you are overweight, inactive or have a family history of diabetes.

Whether you live in an active senior living community or elsewhere, routinely check in with your own health and body with regular doctor’s visits. Mention any issues you may be facing, so that any warning signs of the disease can be caught quickly. Early warning signs of diabetes might include frequent urination, extreme thirst, increased hunger and blurred vision. Other symptoms that could signal type 2 diabetes are skin patches—dark, velvety discoloration of your skin—slow healing wounds, nerve pain, or numbness.

If you exhibit signs of diabetes, managing your blood sugar to levels recommended by your doctor can be difficult but not impossible. While there is no cure for diabetes, management of the disease comes down to a mixture of healthy food, exercise and medication. When diet and exercise alone are not enough to manage blood sugar levels, a doctor may recommend insulin injections or medicines to manage conditions like high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Talk to your doctor about the best medication for you.

Finally, one of the single most important ways to properly managing diabetes is simply to be prepared. The National Institute on Aging recommends having at least three days’ worth of supplies on hand at all times in case of an emergency.

Consider an active senior living lifestyle when choosing a retirement community

Effectively managing a healthy lifestyle and aged-related diseases is made easier with a caring and attentive staff like ours at Country Meadows Retirement Communities. Whether you live in our independent living or assisted living retirement community, resources are available on campus 24-hours a day. Social activities like happy hour and intergenerational programs, as well as daily healthy chef-prepared menu items, are also included in campus living to enrich our residents’ lives and diet. This leads to better management of serious diseases, like diabetes.

We invite active adults who are considering choosing a retirement community or active senior living facility near them to contact us. We have 10 Pennsylvania retirement communities—in Lancaster, Hershey, Mechanicsburg, Pittsburgh, Wyomissing, York-South, York-West, Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton—as well as a Maryland retirement community in Frederick.

If the cost of senior living is a question for you, or you’re concerned about living in an “elderly independent living” community, we would be glad to schedule a visit to any of our active retirement communities or affordable active senior living options and address any questions or concerns you may have.


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