All About Diabetes

Management of diabetes is different for everyone most especially for the elderly. However, being old is not an excuse to not participate actively in taking control of your diabetes. The Joslin Diabetes Center in the United States estimates that one out of every five people over the age of 60 has diabetes. The elderly are also more prone to complications of the disease. To avoid complications and to live your life fully even with diabetes, we offer tips on how to keep track of and control diabetes, even at the prime of your life. Read more… »

Part 3 of Aging Gracefully with Diabetes

“Aging starts from the womb and ends in the tomb,” says Dr. delaVega. She relates that most of the time, what they see in the geriatrics clinic are already complicated cases of diabetes.”We need to nurture even healthy mothers, healthy pregnancies so that the child that comes out from the womb is healthy and leads a healthy life all throughout his life, towards adulthood and later as an older person.” Weight control, diet, exercise and positive outlook are factors that appear to be beneficial for both diabetes and aging. As always, making some basic lifestyle changes can help the elderly manage the disease and reduce the risk for further complications. Read more… »

Part 2 of Aging Gracefully with Diabetes

For Dr. Fernando, there are four aspects in the treatment of elderly diabetics: medication, proper diet, exercise and stress. According to him, it is very important that patients comply with their medication and that physicians should closely monitor medication adjustments for their patients. On proper diet, he acknowledges the important role that family members play in ensuring that diabetes patients get the right nutrition everyday. He also recommends seeking the help of a dietitian or a diabetes educator for proper meal planning. Dr. Fernando likewise swears on the power of exercise or regular physical activity in diabetes management.And lastly, he gives value to removing stress in our system as it could increase blood sugar levels. Read more… »