Health Risks Seniors Should Be Aware Of
Diabetes occurs when the pancreas has problems producing the hormone insulin, which regulates and processes glucose (sugar) in the blood. One in four adults over the age of 65 has diabetes, making it one of the most common conditions affecting seniors. Age, weight and inactivity play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes. It is important to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly both to decrease the risk for diabetes and to manage diabetes if you already have it. Poorly managed diabetes gradually increases the risk of health complications such as heart disease and overactive bladder. Additionally, uncontrolled diabetes has been linked to an increased risk of developing age-related conditions like Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis and cancer. Talk with your doctor about proper preventive measures to reduce your risk for diabetes, especially if you have a family history of the condition.
NPR, “Obesity Stokes Rheumatoid Arthritis With More Than Just Extra Weight” Arthritis Care & Research, “Contribution of obesity to the rise in incidence of rheumatoid arthritis.” University of Rochester Medical Center, “Senior Health - Top 10 Most Common Health Issues” CDC, “Adult Overweight and Obesity” CDC, “Adult Obesity Facts” CDC, “Prevalence of Obesity in the United States, 2009–2010” CDC, “10 Leading Causes of Death by Age Group, United States – 2010” CDC, “Key Facts about Influenza (Flu) & Flu Vaccine” CDC, “People at High Risk of Developing Flu–Related Complications” CDC, “HIV/AIDS and the Flu” CDC, “Alzheimer's Disease” CDC, “Calcium and Bone Health” MedlinePlus, “Osteoporosis” Joint, bone, spine, “Severity of osteoporosis: what is the impact of co-morbidities?” Mayo Clinic, “Diabetes - Causes” Mayo Clinic, “Diabetes - Complications” Urology, “Prevalence of overactive bladder and associated risk factors in 1359 patients with type 2 diabetes.” Neurourology and urodynamics, “Overactive bladder in diabetes: a peripheral or central mechanism?” CDC, “2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet” CDC, “Cancer” National Institute of Aging, “Cancer” National Institute of Aging, “Cancer Facts For People Over 50” Urology, “Maximizing the Treatment of Overactive Bladder in the Elderly” CDC, “Falls Among Older Adults: An Overview” Multiple Sclerosis Journal, “Risk factors for falls in multiple sclerosis: an observational study” Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, “Fall incidence and fall risk factors in people with rheumatoid arthritis” Mayo Clinic, “Hip fracture” CDC, “Arthritis” CDC, “Rheumatoid Arthritis” Illinois Department of Public Health, “Arthritis and Injury” Mayo Clinic, “Shingles” CDC, “Shingles Vaccine” CDC, “Healthy Vision” National Eye Institute, “Age-Related Eye Diseases” Mayo Clinic, “Glaucoma” Mayo Clinic, “Macular Degeneration” Mayo Clinic, “Cataracts” NIH Senior Health, “Stroke” NIH Senior Health, “Stroke: Risk Factors” Mayo Clinic, “Heart Disease” Mayo Clinic, “Stroke” Neurological Research, “Risk of vascular disease in patients with multiple sclerosis: a review.” CDC, “Aging - Depression” Mayo Clinic, “What does the term "clinical depression" mean?” Courtesy of Yuri Arcurs | Dreamstime Courtesy of Dmitriy Shironosov | Dreamstime Courtesy of Monkey Business Images | Dreamstime Courtesy of Alvera | Dreamstime Courtesy of Artanika | Dreamstime Courtesy of Robert Kneschke | Dreamstime Courtesy of Captblack76 | Dreamstime Courtesy of Kurhan | Dreamstime Courtesy of Alexander Raths | Dreamstime Courtesy of Kentannenbaum | Dreamstime Courtesy of Hongqi Zhang (aka Michael Zhang) | Dreamstime Courtesy of Paul Michael Hughes | Dreamstime Courtesy of Monkey Business Images | Dreamstime Courtesy of Ruslan Huzau | Dreamstime