Diabetic Seniors » diabetic

Diabetic Seniors

DiabeticSeniors.com — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:24:00 +0000

As people age their chances for a diabetic condition naturally increase, making diabetic seniors a more common and larger group than ever before. Luckily, there are now plans and help for diabetic seniors to be able to find affordable and convenient testing supplies and monitoring tools to better manage their ongoing, lifetime condition.

Many diabetic seniors have specific questions about how their Medicare or insurance coverage can help in the cost of daily testing and monitoring of their blood glucose levels. The good news is that as of January, 2005, Medicare will cover up to 100% of approved test strips and glucose meters for diabetic seniors, and even offer free delivery in many cases (standard deductibles, co-payments and some restrictions will apply). In addition, many diabetic seniors can have the cost of necessary, semi-annual A1c tests in the doctor’s office covered in full by their Medicare plan.

Diabetic seniors should never trust only the results of at-home tests to establish their situation, and always rely on the advice and guidance of a trained medical professional to better understand and treat their condition. Though it is true that there are now more diagnosed diabetic seniors than ever before, it is also true that today’s diabetic seniors have more affordable and convenient ways to help themselves to discovering a better lifestyle, living with their diabetic condition.

Please be aware that this page on senior diabetes is meant for informational purposes only; please consult a physician for more specific questions pertaining to individual cases.

Diabetes Test Strip

DiabeticSeniors.com — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 02:24:00 +0000

Any person who has been diagnosed with a blood glucose condition is aware of the importance of a diabetes test strip. A diabetes test strip is a thin piece of plastic meant for one-time use. A small sample of blood can be either dropped onto a diabetes test strip or drawn into one (depending on the type), and then the diabetes test strip is placed into a meter to read your current blood glucose levels. Most people with onset diabetes will use a diabetes test strip a couple times every day, whether or not their condition is insulin dependent. Your doctor will determine the actual frequency and best times for you to use a diabetes test strip. Many seniors have questions about whether their insurance or Medicare coverage will include the diabetes test strip, and in most cases the answer is yes (standard deductibles and certain restrictions will apply). Better yet, you can now have the diabetes test strip supply you will need every day delivered right to your door—often for no additional out-of-pocket expense. An easy way to help monitor your daily blood glucose levels, the diabetes test strip is a necessity for many individuals, but you can now take advantage of ways to reduce the cost and effort to keep a diabetes test strip in-hand, and ready to go.

Please be aware that this page about the diabetes test strip is meant for informational purposes only; please consult your physician for more specific info about your case.

New CDC Research Indicates Rise in Diabetes

DiabeticSeniors.com — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 03:35:00 +0000

ATLANTA – On Tuesday, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the nation’s leading authority on public health, announced that the prevalence of diabetes in the U.S. population has recently risen to 8% – a staggering estimate of 24 million people.

Diabetes, a condition characterized by the inability of hormone producing cells within the body to properly produce or utilize insulin, is differentiated into two categories: Type I and Type II. Type I diabetes, in which cells altogether fail to produce insulin accounts for only 5% to 10% of diagnosed cases. Type II diabetes, the overwhelming majority of diagnosed cases, occurs when cells cannot utilize the insulin that is produced and thus are unable to regulate levels of blood glucose. Moreover, Type II diabetes increasingly affects seniors over the age of 60 as the probability of its onset becomes more likely with older age.

There are numerous health risks and complications associated with diabetes including heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. In fact, heart disease accounted for 68% of deaths among elderly patients with diabetes in 2004 while an estimated 75% of diabetic adults were considered to have high blood pressure. Other complications resulting from the improper management of diabetes may include blindness, kidney failure, and nervous system damage.

The abundance of risks associated with diabetes and the increasing prevalence of the disease in the United States necessitates patients with diabetes to aggressively manage it as effectively as possible. The management of diabetes involves establishing a healthy lifestyle regiment of diet and exercise in combination with frequent and systematic monitoring of blood sugar levels. Controlling diabetes and eliminating many of its health risks is possible and has unfortunately become a reality for millions of Americans.

Please keep in mind that this article on Diabetes is intended solely as an informational document; consult a licensed physician before making any decisions regarding the management of individual cases of diabetes.

Source: “National Diabetes Fact Sheet”
Centers for Disease Control

Diabetes Statistics and Facts

DiabeticSeniors.com — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:55:37 +0000

The incidence of diabetes is increasing in the United States. The most recent diabetes statistics show that 23.6 million adults and children — 7.8 percent of the population — have the disease. What’s more, 24 percent of those 23.6 million people don’t even know they have it! Another 57 million people have pre-diabetes, which can develop into type 2 diabetes.

Information, though, can be a powerful tool to prevent or control diabetes. The more diabetes statistics and facts you know, the more likely you will be to recognize the signs of the disease or take steps in not getting type 2 diabetes. If you have been diagnosed as diabetic, knowing facts and statistics on diabetes can help you control the disease effectively.

Differences between Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, and Prediabetes

Type 2 diabetes usually strikes adults who are 45 and over. But according the most recent diabetes statistics, the incident of type 2 diabetes in children and young adults is increasing. Statistics on diabetes also show that prediabetes is increasing as well. Even though type 1 diabetes is unpreventable, type 2 diabetes is preventable even in its prediabetes stage. The common feature among these three conditions is that your body’s blood sugar increases above its normal level. The differences are:

Type 1 Diabetes — Your pancreas stops producing the insulin your body needs to help your cells absorb blood sugar. So the excess sugar remains in your body, creating a high blood sugar level.
Type 2 Diabetes — Your cells develop a resistance to insulin, which prevents them from absorbing blood sugar. The excess sugar stays in your body and elevates your blood sugar level.
Prediabetes — Your blood sugar level is higher than normal but not high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes.

The Fatality of the Two Diseases

Some people think that developing diabetes — especially type 1 diabetes — is the same thing as being given a death sentence. But diabetes statistics prove that they’re dead wrong. It is true that all people with type 1 diabetes and some with type 2 diabetes have to take insulin every day for the rest of their lives. But as long as they take their insulin and take good care of themselves, they can live long, productive and happy lives.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes

According to the most recent diabetes statistics, roughly 90 percent of diabetics have type 2 diabetes and only around 10 percent have type 1 diabetes. The reason for these lopsided statistics on diabetes is because type 1 diabetes strikes dramatically, usually in the matter of hours or a couple of days, so its symptoms are easy to recognize. Type 2 diabetes, though, develops gradually over several years, so its symptoms are difficult to recognize – so hard, in fact, that few people realize they have type 2 diabetes until it is discovered during a routine blood test or a visit to the doctor for an unrelated problem.

The Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes

The increases that the diabetes statistics show in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes can be decreased quite easily. While type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that cannot be prevented, type 2 diabetes comes from living an unhealthy lifestyle by:

Overindulging in foods such as ones high in carbohydrates, fast foods, fatty foods, salty foods, and foods and drinks — especially soft drinks — that contain high levels of high fructose corn syrup
Not exercising regularly
Being overweight

By living a healthier lifestyle and getting periodic blood sugar tests, you can help lower the statistics on diabetes.