A diagnosis of prediabetes can leave people with many questions. You may not have even heard of the condition before your older family member was told they have it. If you have questions, learning the answers to them is a good first step in educating yourself. Below are some common questions people have about prediabetes.
What does it mean to have prediabetes?
People who have prediabetes have elevated blood sugar, but it’s not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. People with prediabetes can go on to develop type 2 diabetes. Your older adult doesn’t have to wait around for a diabetes diagnosis, though. Prediabetes is completely reversible if they make some lifestyle changes.
Is prediabetes a common condition?
Unfortunately, it is. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one third of people in the United States have prediabetes. Only 10 percent of them know it. Prediabetes doesn’t typically cause any noticeable symptoms, so the only way for a person to know they have it is to be tested by a doctor.
Are there factors that suggest an older adult might be at risk for prediabetes?
Although there aren’t any symptoms, there are certain factors that increase the risk of a senior getting prediabetes. In fact, one of them is simply getting older since being over the age of 45 is a risk factor. Other risk factors include:
- Being overweight.
- Having a close relative with type 2 diabetes.
- Lack of physical activity.
- Having ever had gestational diabetes or giving birth to a baby that was over 9 pounds.
How can prediabetes be reversed?
The steps older adults need to take to reduce their chances of prediabetes progressing into type 2 diabetes are the same ones that can reduce the risk for several other serious health conditions and the same ones all people should take to improve their health. They include:
- Exercise: Increasing physical activity helps the body to use up sugar in the blood. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise on at least 5 days of the week. Any kind of physical activity counts, so just encouraging your older family member to take a walk, work in the garden, or spend more time being active around the house can make a difference.
- Eat a Healthy Diet: Eating a balanced, nutritious diet that includes lots of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and lean proteins. Avoid unhealthy fats as well as excess sugar and salt.
- Lose Weight: Even losing a little weight can help to lower blood sugar. The good news is that if your older family member does the two steps above, they have a greater chance of also losing weight.
Can senior care help to prevent the progression of prediabetes?
A senior care provider can help try to prevent prediabetes by preparing healthy meals for your older family member. Senior care can also encourage increased physical activity. They can go for walks with the older adult, drive them to an exercise class, or just help them to move more at home.
Sources
https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2018/know-your-diabetes-risk.html?intcmp=AE-HP-BB-LL3
https://doihaveprediabetes.org/prediabetes-diabetes-faq/prediabetes/
https://www.cdc.gov/features/diabetesprevention/index.html
If you or an aging loved one is considering senior care in Shepherd, MT, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare Billings today at 406-839-2390.
