Diabetes & Older Adults

Hey Y'all,

More diabetes information for you...

From the American Diabetes Association

Diabetes disproportionately affects older adults.

Approximately 25% of Americans over the age of 60 years have diabetes, and aging of the U.S. population is widely acknowledged as one of the drivers of the diabetes epidemic.

Although the burden of diabetes is often described in terms of its impact on working-aged adults, the disease also affects longevity, functional status, and risk of institutionalization for older patients.

Download Living Healthy with Diabetes: A Guide for Adults 55 and Up to learn more.

Older Adult Outreach Program

To address this need, the American Diabetes Association is developing an older adult outreach program.

Our Senior Signature Series is a new activity targeting older adults across the nation. Our goals are to address the needs of this group of constituents and increase the level of awareness about the high prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes among our seniors.

The Senior Signature Series educates older adults and the general community about:

·         how to reduce the burden of living with diabetes

·         steps to reduce their risk for diabetes and its complications

·         the work of the American Diabetes Association

·         ways people can Share-Act-Learn-Give to help Stop Diabetes.

Each Senior Signature Series event is a half-day educational event inviting individuals age 65 years and older to learn more about diabetes.

Learn more here

Until next time...

MUAH!

World Diabetes Day November 14, 2012

Hey Folks,

I'm all about bringing light to awareness' that effect me and the ones I love. Type 2 Diabetes is one of them. Sugar Diabetes as most African American people call it, runs in my family on my Mom's side.  I remember my favorite Aunt injecting insulin into the fatty tissue of her tummy every morning. 

From the American Diabetes Association:

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. Millions of Americans have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and many more are unaware they are at high risk. Some groups have a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes than others. Type 2 diabetes is more common in African Americans, Latinos,Native Americans, and Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, as well as the aged population.

In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use glucose for energy. When you eat food, the body breaks down all of the sugars and starches into glucose, which is the basic fuel for the cells in the body. Insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it can lead to diabetes complications.

World Diabetes Day raises global awareness of diabetes - its escalating rates around the world and how to prevent the illness in most cases. Started by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and WHO, the Day is celebrated on 14 November to mark the birthday of Frederick Banting who, along with Charles Best, was instrumental in the discovery of insulin in 1922, a life-saving treatment for diabetes patients.


Check out International Diabetes Federation site for things to do today! http://www.idf.org/worlddiabetesday/activities 

Until next time...
MUAH!