2 

Diabetes in Older

People — A Disease

You Can Manage

Diabetes is a serious disease.

It happens when your blood levels

of glucose, a form of sugar, are

too high. Diabetes can lead to

dangerous health problems.

The good news is that

high glucose levels

can be managed to

help control the disease

and prevent or delay

future problems.

What is Diabetes?

Our bodies change the foods we eat

into glucose. Glucose travels through

the bloodstream to “fuel” or feed our

cells. Insulin is a hormone that helps

our bodies use glucose for energy.

People with diabetes either do not

make insulin, do not use insulin

properly, or both. This means they

have too much glucose (sugar) in

their blood. As a result, they often

feel tired, hungry, or thirsty; they

may lose weight, urinate often, or

have trouble with their eyes. In time,

the high levels of this form of sugar

in the blood (glucose) can hurt their

eyes, kidneys, and nerves. It can also

cause heart disease, strokes and even

the need to remove all or part of a

limb (amputation).

Diabetes tends to run in families,

but other factors add to the risk of

getting diabetes. For example,

being overweight and underactive

can sometimes trigger diabetes in

people who are at risk. There is a

lot of research underway looking at

what causes diabetes and how best

to manage it. But there is a lot we

do know. For example, we know that

careful control of blood glucose,

blood pressure, and cholesterol can

help prevent or delay diabetes and

its complications.

Types of Diabetes

There are two types of diabetes. In one

kind, people must take insulin every

day. This is called type 1 diabetes, formerly known as juvenile-onset diabetes.

National Institute on Aging

AgePage
2 

Diabetes in Older

People — A Disease

You Can Manage

Diabetes is a serious disease.

It happens when your blood levels

of glucose, a form of sugar, are

too high. Diabetes can lead to

dangerous health problems.

The good news is that

high glucose levels

can be managed to

help control the disease

and prevent or delay

future problems.

What is Diabetes?

Our bodies change the foods we eat

into glucose. Glucose travels through

the bloodstream to “fuel” or feed our

cells. Insulin is a hormone that helps

our bodies use glucose for energy.

People with diabetes either do not

make insulin, do not use insulin

properly, or both. This means they

have too much glucose (sugar) in

their blood. As a result, they often

feel tired, hungry, or thirsty; they

may lose weight, urinate often, or

have trouble with their eyes. In time,

the high levels of this form of sugar

in the blood (glucose) can hurt their

eyes, kidneys, and nerves. It can also

cause heart disease, strokes and even

the need to remove all or part of a

limb (amputation).

Diabetes tends to run in families,

but other factors add to the risk of

getting diabetes. For example,

being overweight and underactive

can sometimes trigger diabetes in

people who are at risk. There is a

lot of research underway looking at

what causes diabetes and how best

to manage it. But there is a lot we

do know. For example, we know that

careful control of blood glucose,

blood pressure, and cholesterol can

help prevent or delay diabetes and

its complications.

Types of Diabetes

There are two types of diabetes. In one

kind, people must take insulin every

day. This is called type 1 diabetes, formerly known as juvenile-onset diabetes.

National Institute on Aging

AgePage
Diabetes in Older

People — A Disease

You Can Manage

Diabetes is a serious disease.

It happens when your blood levels

of glucose, a form of sugar, are

too high. Diabetes can lead to

dangerous health problems.

The good news is that

high glucose levels

can be managed to

help control the disease

and prevent or delay

future problems.

What is Diabetes?

Our bodies change the foods we eat

into glucose. Glucose travels through

the bloodstream to “fuel” or feed our

cells. Insulin is a hormone that helps

our bodies use glucose for energy.

People with diabetes either do not

make insulin, do not use insulin

National Institute on Aging

AgePage
Managing Diabetes

There are things you can do to take

control of your diabetes.

✦ Meal planning and eating

correctly are key to managing

blood glucose, blood pressure,

and cholesterol levels. To plan

meals and eat right, you need to

understand how different foods

affect your glucose levels. A good

meal plan will take into account

your food likes and dislikes, goals

for weight control, and daily

physical activity. Health care

professionals can work with you

to create a personalized meal plan.

✦ Physical activity is very important in

dealing with diabetes. Taking part

in a regular fitness program can

improve blood glucose levels

in older people with diabetes.

A health care professional can

help plan a physical activity

program just right for you.

✦ Medications are also central to

controlling diabetes for many

people. Doctors may prescribe

oral medicines (those taken by

mouth), insulin, or a combination

of both as needed. People with

type 2 diabetes may not need to

take diabetes medications if they

can reach glucose, blood pressure,

and cholesterol goals through

meal planning, eating the right

foods, and physical activity.

✦ Keeping track of how well your

diabetes care plan is working is

important. Check blood glucose

levels and monitor your blood

pressure and cholesterol levels.

What else can you do?

Eye Exams. People with diabetes

should have an eye exam every

year. Finding and treating

eye problems early can

help prevent more

serious conditions

later on.

Kidney Check. A yearly

urine test for a protein

called albumin will show whether

your kidneys are affected by diabetes.

Foot Care. Diabetes can reduce

blood supply to arms and legs and

cause numbness in the feet. People

with diabetes should check their feet

every day and watch for any redness

or patches of heat. Sores, blisters,

breaks in the skin, infections, or

build-up of calluses should be

6 7 
Managing Diabetes

There are things you can do to take

control of your diabetes.

✦ Meal planning and eating

correctly are key to managing

blood glucose, blood pressure,

and cholesterol levels. To plan

meals and eat right, you need to

understand how different foods

affect your glucose levels. A good

meal plan will take into account

your food likes and dislikes, goals

for weight control, and daily

physical activity. Health care

professionals can work with you

to create a personalized meal plan.

✦ Physical activity is very important in

dealing with diabetes. Taking part

in a regular fitness program can

improve blood glucose levels

in older people with diabetes.

A health care professional can

help plan a physical activity

program just right for you.

✦ Medications are also central to

controlling diabetes for many

people. Doctors may prescribe

oral medicines (those taken by

mouth), insulin, or a combination

of both as needed. People with

type 2 diabetes may not need to

take diabetes medications if they

can reach glucose, blood pressure,

and cholesterol goals through

meal planning, eating the right

foods, and physical activity.

✦ Keeping track of how well your

diabetes care plan is working is

important. Check blood glucose

levels and monitor your blood

pressure and cholesterol levels.

What else can you do?

Eye Exams. People with diabetes

should have an eye exam every

year. Finding and treating

eye problems early can

help prevent more

serious conditions

later on.

Kidney Check. A yearly

urine test for a protein

called albumin will show whether

your kidneys are affected by diabetes.

Foot Care. Diabetes can reduce

blood supply to arms and legs and

cause numbness in the feet. People

with diabetes should check their feet

every day and watch for any redness

or patches of heat. Sores, blisters,

breaks in the skin, infections, or

build-up of calluses should be

6 7 
Managing Diabetes

There are things you can do to take

control of your diabetes.

✦ Meal planning and eating

correctly are key to managing

blood glucose, blood pressure,

and cholesterol levels. To plan

meals and eat right, you need to

understand how different foods

affect your glucose levels. A good

meal plan will take into account

your food likes and dislikes, goals

for weight control, and daily

physical activity. Health care

professionals can work with you

to create a personalized meal plan.

✦ Physical activity is very important in

dealing with diabetes. Taking part

in a regular fitness program can

improve blood glucose levels

in older people with diabetes.

A health care professional can

help plan a physical activity

program just right for you.

✦ Medications are also central to

controlling diabetes for many

people. Doctors may prescribe

oral medicines (those taken by

mouth), insulin, or a combination

of both as needed. People with

type 2 diabetes may not need to

6