AgePage

National Institute on Aging

 

Diabetes In Older 

People — A Disease 

You Can Manage

Diabetes is a serious disease. People 

get diabetes when their blood glucose 

level, sometimes called blood sugar, 

is too high. Diabetes can lead to 

dangerous health problems, 

such as having a heart attack 

or a stroke. The good news 

is that there are things 

you can do to take 

control of diabetes 

and prevent its 

problems. And, if you 

are worried about getting 

diabetes, there are things 

you can do to lower your risk. 

What Is Diabetes?

Our bodies change the food we 

eat into glucose. Insulin helps turn 

glucose into energy that “fuels” our 

cells. If you have diabetes, your body 

does not make insulin, does not use 

insulin the right way, or both. That 

means there is too much glucose in 

the blood. Doctors who specialize in 

taking care of people with diabetes 

are called endocrinologists. 

Types of Diabetes

There are two kinds of diabetes. In 

type 1 diabetes, the body does not make 

insulin. It develops most often in children 

and young adults but can happen at 

any age.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common 

kind. You may have heard it called adult

onset diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, the 

body makes insulin but doesn’t use it 

the right way. Your chance of getting 

type 2 diabetes is higher if you are 

overweight, inactive, and/or have 

a family history of diabetes. 

Symptoms

Sometimes people with type 2 

diabetes don’t even know they have 

it. People with untreated diabetes 

often feel tired, hungry, or thirsty. 

They may lose weight, urinate often, 

or have trouble with their eyes, such 

as blurred vision. They may also get 

skin infections or heal slowly from 

cuts and bruises. See your doctor 

right away if you have one or more 

of these symptoms. 

Diabetes AP.indd 1-4 
 

Diabetes In Older 

People — A Disease 

You Can Manage

Diabetes is a serious disease. People 

get diabetes when their blood glucose 

level, sometimes called blood sugar, 

is too high. Diabetes can lead to 

dangerous health problems, 

such as having a heart attack 

or a stroke. The good news 

is that there are things 

you can do to take 

control of diabetes 

and prevent its 

problems. And, if you 

are worried about getting 

diabetes, there are things 

you can do to lower your risk. 

What Is Diabetes?

Our bodies change the food we 

eat into glucose. Insulin helps turn 

glucose into energy that “fuels” our 

cells. If you have diabetes, your body 

does not make insulin, does not use 

insulin the right way, or both. That 

means there is too much glucose in 

the blood. Doctors who specialize in 

taking care of people with diabetes 

are called endocrinologists. 

Types of Diabetes

There are two kinds of diabetes. In 

type 1 diabetes, the body does not make 

insulin. It develops most often in children 

and young adults but can happen at 

any age.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common 

kind. You may have heard it called adult

onset diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, the 

body makes insulin but doesn’t use it 

the right way. Your chance of getting 

type 2 diabetes is higher if you are 

overweight, inactive, and/or have 

a family history of diabetes. 

Symptoms

Sometimes people with type 2 

diabetes don’t even know they have 

it. People with untreated diabetes 

often feel tired, hungry, or thirsty. 

They may lose weight, urinate often, 

or have trouble with their eyes, such 

as blurred vision. They may also get 

skin infections or heal slowly from 

cuts and bruises. See your doctor 

right away if you have one or more 

of these symptoms. 
 

know if you want help with 

meal planning. 

F Getting exercise. Daily exercise 

can help improve glucose levels 

in older people with diabetes. 

Ask your doctor to help you 

plan an exercise program.

F Keeping track of how you are 

doing. Talk to your doctor about 

how well your diabetes care plan 

is working. Make sure you know 

how often you need to check 

your glucose levels. 

Your doctor may want you to see 

other health care providers who can 

help you manage some of the extra 

problems caused by diabetes. He or 

she can also give you a schedule for 

tests you may need. Talk to your doctor 

about what you can do to stay healthy. 

Here are some things to keep in mind: 

F Have yearly eye exams. Finding 

and treating eye problems early 

may keep your eyes healthy. 

F Check your kidneys yearly.

Diabetes can be hard on your 

kidneys. A urine and blood 

test will show if your kidneys 

are okay. 

F Get flu shots and a pneumonia 

vaccine. A yearly flu shot will help 

keep you healthy. If you’re over 

65, make sure you have had a 

pneumonia shot. Talk with your 

doctor to see if you should get 

another one. 

F Check your cholesterol. At least 

once a year, get a blood test to 

check your cholesterol as well 

as your triglyceride levels. High 

levels may increase your risk for 

heart problems. 

F Care for your teeth and gums. 

Your teeth and gums need to 

be checked by a dentist twice a 

year to avoid serious problems.

F Find out your average blood 

glucose level. At least twice 

a year, get a blood test called 

the A1C test. The result will 

tell you your average glucose 

level for the past 2 to 3 months. 

F Protect your skin. Keep your skin 

clean and use skin softeners for 

dryness. Take care of minor cuts 

and bruises to prevent infections. 

F Look at your feet. Take time 

to look at your feet every day 

for any red patches. If you have 

sores, blisters, breaks in the skin, 

infections, or build-up of calluses, 

see your doctor. Your doctor 

may also tell you to see a foot 

doctor called a podiatrist. 

F Watch your blood pressure. Get your 

blood pressure checked regularly.