As our bodies age we may have to seek out more medical attention and we may encounter more medical complications. This is something we all have to face; we cannot live forever and may not always have our health. The time that you may have on this sphere should be enjoyed and there are ways to prevent some of the distressing complications of old age. Work at it now and have more promise to live many years as a healthy and happy retiree.
DIABETES AND ITS BRUTAL PARTNERS
Type 2 Diabetes is a largely preventable disease and it is also a very costly one. “More than 24 million Americans have this disease and in 2007 it took $116 billion in excess medical spending (Harvard School of Public Health).” Diabetes can lead to other health problems especially in old age. This disease is linked to dementia, blindness, kidney failure, loss of a limbs, heart disease and death, (being that it is the seventh leading cause of death in the US).
PREVENT IT NOW
This is such a serious and rampant disease, yet it is largely preventable. Whether or not you are currently suffering from Type 2 Diabetes, you should take steps to preventing further illness or to prevent this disease from affecting you.
The major factors in prevention are:
- Controlling your weight
- Getting
some exercise
Being obese makes you 20-40 times more at risk for the disease and for every 2 hours spent in front of the TV or being inactive, it will increase your chances of developing diabetes by 20%.
DEMENTIA AND DIABETES LINKED
Diabetes damages blood vessels that supply our most worthy organ, our brain. It doubles our risk of harboring dementia and also may speed up some of the negative outcomes of the disease once contracted. 6.8 million people in the US are affected by dementia and if you have ever experienced caring for a loved one with dementia, you must know how difficult it is to see the person you love lose their cognitive abilities. For
specialized nursing home care for dementia patients you may see costs on the
upwards of $80,000 annually. Caring for a loved one with dementia may not be something that you can manage in an aged state. It takes an emotional and even a
physical toll on the caregiver.
STEPS TO PREVENT DEMENTIA
The risks of Dementia can be lowered if you
- Stay at a healthy
weight - Exercise at least a half an hour a day
- Treat and prevent things like high cholesterol and blood pressure
- Find ways to stay involved as you age and not shut yourself in your home
- Find new activities and hobbies to keep your mind going
A problem with some Elderly, is that they may not have some of the family support needed to stay socially active. It is imperative to find community, church or support groups and stay socially active as much as possible to keep your mind sharp. Activities that employ some thinking and new hobbies will also help to keep your mind active. Just like your physical health, your cognitive health needs to be exercised.
Find the resources to keep fit in your minds, bodies and souls.
I just wanted to touch on a little bit of information that may help you in your future as you age. We are all living longer, well into our late 80’s and some simple steps like exercising 30 minutes a day and eating some of the “right” foods may make your period as a
retiree a more pleasurable and radiant time for you!
