The Essential Dental Hygiene Routine For Anyone With Diabetes
June 8, 2022
Diabetes & Dementia: How It Affects Your Brain
June 9, 2022
Ageing is inevitable for all of us, but it can be particularly challenging when you’re already dealing with diabetes. That’s because diabetes poses a risk of serious complications, many of which are also exacerbated as a result of ageing. Recognizing the risks and taking action can help to prevent or, at the very least, delay such health problems as you grow older.
Diabetes & Ageing
Brain Health
Memory decline, brain shrinkage, and white matter lesion formation is strongly linked with the ageing process, which is why degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s are most common in aged adults. Unfortunately, this risk is much higher when you already suffer from diabetes as high blood sugar damages your vasculature. In fact, research shows that the rate of cognitive ageing is 50% faster in diabetes patients. The single most important safeguard against diabetes-induced brain disease is strict adherence to diabetes treatment to control blood sugar levels.
Eye Health
Diabetes is known to be a major risk factor for vision impairment and loss of vision, especially if the condition is not managed effectively. Diabetic retinopathy, a condition of damaged blood vessels in the eye affects up to 35.4% of all diabetes patients. The risk of retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts also increases with age. This makes regular eye examinations with pupil dilation extremely important for any diabetes patient, especially as you get older.
Dental Health
Diabetes increases vulnerability to gum disease, which already rises as you age. Infections that can cause tooth loss and severe gum disease are higher when you suffer from diabetes as immune function is compromised. In addition to adhering to diabetes treatment, maintaining a disciplined dental care routine can also help safeguard against dental disease. This includes brushing twice a day, using oral antiseptic mouthwash daily, going for regular dental health checks, and reporting any signs of disease promptly.
Injuries
Diabetes increases the risk of neuropathy or nerve damage, especially in the feet, which is why it’s called peripheral neuropathy. With weakened sensation in the feet, there is a higher risk of tripping and falling. The risk of falls and resulting injuries are also higher as you age because of muscle weakness and balance problems. Moreover, injuries can often go unnoticed as diabetic neuropathy causes a loss of sensation. This can even result in life-threatening infections. Using protective shoes, checking your feet daily, and regular podiatrist visits can help lower the risk of falls and injuries as you age.
Infections
Immune function weakens as you grow older, but diabetes can further compromise immunity. This makes you more vulnerable to infections and less able to recover as you grow older. The flu can actually be life-threatening for older diabetes patients, increasing the risk of severe ear infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia. This is why any sign of infection, no matter how trivial, should be reported to your doctor and treated immediately. This will help lower the risk of complications and will raise the chances of recovery.
Ultimately, the most important safeguard against poor health as you age is effective management of diabetes right from the time the condition is diagnosed. Recognizing the risks and warning signs of diabetes complications that are also associated with ageing can then help provide an added layer of protection.
