Diabetes is a disease that affects all ages. But as people get older it’s particularly difficult to deal with—especially because diabetics are more likely to develop dementia.
In an 11-year study of more than 1,000 people, 27% of those with diabetes developed dementia, compared to 20% of people with normal blood sugar levels. Diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease (an advanced form of dementia) are connected in ways that still aren’t completely understood. It’s thought that diabetes contributes to vascular disease, disrupting the flow of oxygen to the brain.
In the last 50 years, the number of people diagnosed has risen from 1.5 million to around 26 million, and it’s estimated that 60 million have prediabetes. So the prevalence of dementia could increase as the U.S. population ages. However, taking steps to control diabetes now may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s later. And that’s important because the treatment for dementia is very limited.
Reducing the risk of dementia is actually quite simple—it’s all about managing diabetes in the best possible way. Here are some steps that can help:
* Follow physician recommendations for monitoring blood glucose, cholesterol level and blood pressure.
* Eat healthy foods, including fruits and vegetables, lean meats, whole grains, and low-fat milk and cheese.
* Exercise at least 30 minutes most days of the week.
* Maintain a healthy weight. Losing weight can seriously reduce the negative effects of diabetes. Just 10 to 15 pounds can make a difference.
* Take a doctor-approved multivitamin to help fill nutrient gaps in the diet.
* Take medications on schedule. There are reminder alarms with a vibration feature for people who have trouble hearing. For people who have trouble opening small pill containers, there are larger, easy-to-open pill containers available. Some include magnifiers for reading medicine labels. And for people with vision problems, there are blood glucose meters that “talk.”
* Keep an updated list of medications and record important information about each one.
Diabetics can significantly reduce the risk of dementia by consistently managing their disease.
For more information and help on managing the disease and caring for elderly diabetics, visit www.friedmandiabetesinstitute.com.