Diabetes affects over 29% of Americans over 65—and about 4% of these seniors are undiagnosed. There are several reasons for the lack of diagnoses, but it may be that many older adults and their family members and caregivers mistake the symptoms of diabetes for typical signs of getting older. Most diabetes among seniors is type 2 when the body can't adequately process the glucose it needs to function.
Learning the signs and symptoms of diabetes is critical in knowing when senior citizens should see their doctor to confirm a diagnosis.
8 Warning Signs of Diabetes
These symptoms all indicate a problem turning glucose into energy, although they could have other root causes.
1. Thirst and Urination
Diabetes interferes with kidney function—glucose that is ordinarily filtered out via the kidneys seeps into the urine, bringing other fluids along with it. This leads to feeling thirsty all the time, which in turn means more trips to the bathroom.
2. Greater Appetite
An increased appetite is another warning sign of diabetes, particularly when there's a craving for sugar. This is the body's way of signaling that glucose is not reaching the necessary cells, which leads to hunger pangs soon after a full meal. An increased appetite starts a vicious circle of eating more, leading to higher blood sugar levels, which leads to more feelings of hunger.
3. Fatigue
Seniors with diabetes are more tired than usual. This happens because the body uses so much energy to convert glucose into energy that they are too tired to do anything.
4. Blurry Vision
High glucose levels also draw fluid from the eyes, which makes it hard to focus. Undiagnosed diabetes can lead to partial or total loss of vision.
5. Slow Healing
Human skin naturally thins as it ages, and many seniors attribute cuts and bruises that heal slowly to the aging process. It's just as likely among the elderly that sores, cuts, and skin infections that heal slower than expected are signs of diabetes. The feet are especially prone to sores and infections from poor circulation resulting from high blood sugar. Women may also have more bladder and yeast infections with diabetes.
6. Dizziness and Headaches
Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, is another sign that a senior has diabetes. If blood sugar drops suddenly, the person gets dizzy, weak, confused, and may even faint. These symptoms can easily be confused with having low blood pressure. Headaches are another symptom that could be mistaken for blood pressure problems—when blood sugar dips, a headache often follows.
7. Dry Mouth
Dry, chapped lips and a rough-feeling tongue are signs that the mouth isn't producing enough saliva, another side effect of blood sugar abnormalities.
8. Gum Problems
Diabetes can also compromise the body's immune system; infected gums are another symptom. Loose teeth are mouth sores also indicate the likelihood of diabetes.
Companion Care in Rock Hill
Senior Helpers in Rock Hill offers companion care for the greater Rock Hill/ Fort Mill area and can watch for the warning signs of diabetes in your elderly loved ones. Contact us to learn more about our services for seniors.