Modern medicine has made impressive strides in recognizing and treating diabetes. That’s wonderful news because this condition used to be a death sentence for those who developed it.
Today, people can live long, fulfilling lives with diabetes if they learn to effectively manage it.
At Hopscotch Primary Care, we believe the best way to manage a chronic condition is to avoid getting it in the first place! We’re invested in supporting our patients with preventative care, whenever possible.
This can mean keeping you current on your health and wellness screenings, helping you get your immunizations, and maintaining close tabs on your health as you age so we can address any changes early.
Hopscotch is joining the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to raise awareness about important health and wellness issues that affect seniors.
They developed their National Health Observances (NHO) calendar to shine a spotlight on health conditions that deserve more attention and awareness.
They’ve designated November of 2024 as American Diabetes Month.
Since diabetes is a chronic health condition that impacts seniors more than most, it’s a subject that’s close to our hearts.
In honor of American Diabetes Month, this article will shed light on how diabetes occurs and how it impacts seniors. It will also explore important facts about diabetes, including how it can be prevented.
Diabetes facts for older Americans
Type II diabetes is the most common type, affecting about 11% of the total population and around a third of American seniors.
Diabetes affects the pancreas, which produces insulin. Diabetes makes your body resistant to insulin and also affects its ability to use the insulin it creates.
But why is insulin important?
Insulin is a hormone whose job is to help you regulate your blood sugar and get energy from the foods you eat.
If your body has trouble producing and managing insulin, it can cause your blood sugar to spike and your energy levels to plummet.
Poor insulin regulation can cause a breakdown in how your body gets the nutrients it needs and lead to a glut of sugar in your blood that can’t be distributed to your cells.
Left unchecked, diabetes can cause major issues with your kidneys and eyesight. It can even affect how you heal from wounds and put you at greater risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
Common symptoms of diabetes include:
- Extreme thirst
- Frequent urination
- Blurred vision
- Increased appetite
- Severe fatigue
- Wounds that don’t heal or take a long time to heal
- Foot and hand numbness or tingling
- Unintentional weight loss
If you notice any of these symptoms in yourself or someone you care about, it’s wise to reach out to your healthcare provider to explore things further. Your provider can conduct tests to determine whether your symptoms are due to diabetes.
If this is the case, they can help you develop a plan to manage your diabetes, so it doesn’t have an outsized impact on your life and well-being.
When it comes to chronic conditions like diabetes, prevention is the best approach. Hopscotch Primary Care supports you in preventing and managing conditions like diabetes, so you can live your best, healthiest life!
Next, let’s explore strategies to prevent diabetes.
How older Americans can prevent diabetes
Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
When it comes to chronic health conditions like diabetes, this statement certainly rings true.
Understanding diabetes and your risk factors for it is an important component of prevention. Knowledge is a key part of avoiding illnesses like diabetes.
But who is at risk for diabetes? Does it come with any warning signs to be aware of?
Warning signs for diabetes can include symptoms like blurred vision, extreme thirst, frequently needing to urinate, or feeling very tired and fatigued.
Diabetes warning signs can also include issues like dry mouth, headaches, dizziness, or swollen and painful gums.
The issue with many of these symptoms is they can be easily dismissed and can also be signs of other issues and conditions.
That’s why it’s important to keep open lines of communication with your doctor and discuss any new issues or concerns with them.
At Hopscotch Primary Care, our door is always open to listen to your concerns and answer your questions. No issue is too small or insignificant. We’d much rather support you in preventing issues like diabetes whenever possible—because preventing diabetes is better for your health and wellness.
If you’ve noticed changes or symptoms showing up—don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know!
Some folks are indeed at increased risk for developing diabetes.
The majority of people who develop type 2 diabetes have at least one parent who also had it.
However, lifestyle factors are a major predictor of who will develop type 2 diabetes. The good news? Many of these factors are under your power to control.
Lifestyle factors that increase your risk for diabetes include:
- Body mass—overweight people are at higher risk for diabetes
- Lack of exercise—a sedentary lifestyle is associated with diabetes risk
- Age—folks over age 65 account for more than half the known cases of type 2 diabetes
- Unhealthy diet—this includes diets that are made up of overly processed foods with too many fats, sugars, and salts
- Smoking and drinking—smokers and those who consume alcohol regularly and to excess are at increased risk
- High stress—those with stressful jobs, lives, or poor stress management are at risk for diabetes
- Medical conditions—folks with high cholesterol and high blood pressure are also at risk for developing diabetes
Many of these factors can be addressed, managed, and improved, with lifestyle which lowers your risk of developing diabetes.
If you’re feeling like you need some extra support and guidance to help you manage your risks for diabetes—Hopscotch Primary Care is here for you!
We take great pride in helping seniors manage their diabetes risks and other health conditions.
We’ll help you focus on diabetes prevention with regular health screenings, open lines of communication with your doctor, resources from our team, and anything else you need to live your best, healthiest life!
Together, we’ll create a prevention plan to keep your diabetes risk factors in check. We’ll work with you to develop a personalized, comprehensive health and wellness plan that’s easy to follow and designed to fit your lifestyle and health goals.
With Hopscotch, your diabetes prevention or management plan is custom-tailored to you.
Some of the diabetes prevention and management solutions we may explore with you include:
- Testing—There are a few tests that can help your doctor assess your risks of developing diabetes. Knowing your risks and establishing your health baseline comes in handy for creating a diabetes prevention plan that’s made for you.
- Lifestyle changes—Since many diabetes risk factors are within your ability to control and manage, we’ll work with you to address any changes you can make to lower your risks for diabetes. These may include goals like losing weight, getting active, quitting or cutting back on smoking and drinking, and adopting a healthy diet.
You don’t need to walk this road alone. Hopscotch is here to support you every step of the way to reach your health and wellness goals.
- If you need a reliable source of healthy, fresh fruits and vegetables, our Community Health Workers can locate and set you up with the foods you need.
- If you’re concerned about staying current on your wellness check-ups and screens, our Care Center Managers will make sure you don’t miss an important appointment.
- If you’re worried about costs and navigating insurance issues related to your care, our Patient Relations Managers can guide and assist you with insurance and Medicare coverage, so you never miss out on the care you need.
At Hopscotch, our team-based approach means you get so much more than just great medical care. In addition to our dedicated doctors and nurses, we offer our patients access to our entire team—each of whom is focused on giving you the best, most comprehensive care experience possible.
We’re here to help you reach your health and wellness goals, and cheer you on every step of the way. Our primary care for senior diabetes goes above and beyond, to give you the care you deserve.
When it comes to preventing and managing conditions like diabetes, proactive, personalized care and support make all the difference.
If you or someone you love is concerned about diabetes, Hopscotch is here for you! Find your neighborhood Hopscotch clinic location, easily become a patient online, learn more about the chronic conditions we treat, and visit our blog for free information on topics of interest to seniors.