If you’re a senior living with diabetes, then you know how the fear of diabetes complications is always lurking in the background. While no one can give you a foolproof guarantee, following these 7 steps will make diabetes complications a lot less likely.
Step #1: Keep your blood sugar under control.
The first step in preventing long-term complications from diabetes is to keep your blood sugar levels as close to normal as you can – safely. For most seniors with diabetes, that means following your nutrition plan, taking your insulin and staying on top of your blood work. Which leads us to the A1C test.
A1C – The First Defense Against Diabetes Complications
The A1C blood test is the one-stop-shop for diabetes. That’s because it can identify diabetes, diagnose diabetes and indicate how well your diabetes treatment is working.
Adults with diabetes should get an A1C test at least twice a year. Generally speaking, results of less than 7% are considered optimum. This little blood test is the best indicator of how you’re doing, so don’t neglect it.
That doesn’t mean your blood sugar levels aren’t important, though. Optimum levels are between 90-130 mg/dL and under 180 mg/dL after eating, according to John Hopkins Medicine. Be sure to keep a record, either on paper or on your phone or computer, so you know if something unusual is going on.
Step #2: Stop smoking.
The hazards of smoking are well-known. The hazards of diabetes are well-known, too. Combine the two, though, and you have the hazards of both – on steroids. That’s because those with diabetes are at risk as it is; smoking increases the risks for the following even more:
- Heart disease
- Kidney disease
- Stroke
- Nerve damage
- Eye diseases, which can lead to blindness
- Reduced blood flow to the legs and feet, which can impede circulation to the point where amputation is required (more on that later).
So if you do smoke, do what you can to quit as soon as possible.
Step #3: Watch your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
High blood pressure opens you up to the risk of heart disease, kidney disease and stroke. Ideally, your blood pressure should measure below 130/80, but at the very least keep it under 140/90. How? Reduce your salt intake, stay active and try to lose as much excess weight as you can. And stick to decaf.
As for cholesterol, it carries the same risks as high blood pressure. If your LDL (the bad cholesterol) levels are 100 mg/dL or more, talk to your medical team about what you can do to reduce it. Changes in diet might be enough but if not, your doctor might recommend medication.
Step #4: Take care of your feet.
One of the dangers of high blood sugar is that it reduces the flow of blood, especially to the legs and feet. As a result, there can be a loss of sensation that you might not even notice. Which means that you won’t notice small cuts or ingrown toenails, which when left untreated can lead to infection.
This is one of the most common – and most dangerous – diabetes complications.
Follow these tips for taking care of your feet if you have diabetes:
- Check your feet every day. Look for cuts, bruises, blisters or other sores. Check for swelling and redness, too. If you see anything that looks problematic to you, make an appointment or ask for help.
- Wash daily. Wash your feet every day with a gentle soap and lukewarm water. Pat dry – don’t rub – and make sure you dry the area between your toes. Then apply a moisturizer all over your foot except between the toes.
- Keep nails trimmed. This can get difficult, so if it’s too hard go get yourself a pedicure. You don’t have to do nail polish, but you’ll get your nails clipped professionally and your feet taken care of.
- Protect your feet. Wear socks and comfortable shoes that fit well and have good cushioning. If you need to wear dress shoes like heels or tuxedo shoes, try to minimize wear time by using your regular shoes to get to and from your destination. If you have Medicare, ask your doctor about applying for Medicare-funded shoes (the application needs to go through a physician or podiatrist).
Step #5: Go for regular doctor’s visits to check for diabetes complications.
Besides keeping an eye on your overall health, keeping up with regular doctor’s appointments makes it more likely that any possible complications will be detected early enough to do something effective about them. But it’s not only your primary physician you need to see; you have to put together a health team that can work together to ensure you get the best medical care possible.
Here’s a list of specialists you should be seeing (besides your primary physician who you’ll see regularly to check your blood sugar, blood pressure, weight and feet):
- Nutritionist. Once you have your food plan settled, you should see your nutritionist 3-4 times a year to check your weight, body measurements and to see if your plan needs tweaking.
- Dentist. You should go for a checkup about every 6 months – or more if you feel there are problems like gum disease or cavities.
- Podiatrist. Depending on what your primary care physician says, you should see your podiatrist 1-2 times a year.
- Optometrist. Whether you love your local optometrist or you prefer an ophthalmologist, you need to make sure your vision is okay. Glaucoma and other vision complications can creep up on you so silently you won’t know until it’s too late. So get your eyes checked twice a year – at least.
The threat of diabetes-related complications is real. By following these steps, though, you can make real progress toward preventing them. And that will enable you to live your golden years to the fullest. Which is the real point – isn’t it?