Health

Know Your Risk of Diabetes – and How to Lower It

You may think your risk of diabetes is low without a family history. But you should know that your age can be a significant risk factor for developing this troubling and often complex disease. “Approximately 10% of people in the general population have Type 2 – or adult onset – diabetes. However, among people aged 65 and over, the occurrence of diabetes jumps to nearly 22%,” explains W. Timothy Garvey, MD, UAB Professor of Medicine, Chair of the Department of Nutrition Sciences, and Director of the Diabetes Research Training Center.

Because your risk of developing diabetes increases as you age, it’s important to recognize the symptoms so that you can visit your healthcare provider right away to have your blood glucose levels checked. “Uncontrolled glucose levels in the blood can cause significant damage to the blood vessels, increasing the risk for other serious health problems such as heart disease and stroke,” says Dr. Garvey. The good news is that if you don’t have diabetes, there are important lifestyle steps you can take now to lower your risk of developing the disease as you get older.

Know the Symptoms

• Excessive thirst
• Frequent urination
• Blurred vision
• Increased hunger, even after eating a meal
• Unexplained weight loss
• Feeling unusually tired
• Tingling of your hands or feet

If you’ve experienced any of these symptoms, it’s important to make an appointment with your healthcare provider. “A fasting blood glucose test, which involves drawing a patient’s blood before he or she has eaten breakfast, is the standard diagnostic test for Type 2 diabetes,” Dr. Garvey explains. “A diagnosis of diabetes is made when two separate blood tests show that a patient’s fasting blood glucose level is greater than or equal to 126 mg/dL.”

Dr. Garvey stresses that some patients with risk factors for and symptoms of diabetes may have normal fasting blood glucose levels, while glucose levels rise excessively in the hours after eating a meal. “In these cases, an oral glucose tolerance test can check the glucose level two hours after drinking a glucose solution. Another option has been recently recommended by the American Diabetes Association; it is a test called hemoglobin A1C, which provides a snapshot of a patient’s blood glucose levels over a two- or three-month period,” he says. “This test can be instrumental in confirming a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes when symptoms are present, yet fasting blood glucose levels appear normal.”

Dr. Garvey says that older adults with diabetes are more sensitive to the medications used to control blood sugar levels, putting them at increased risk for experiencing low blood sugar levels – called hypoglycemia – in response to some medications. “If you’re an older adult with Type 2 diabetes, it’s important to work closely with your doctor to find a medication that works well in controlling you blood glucose levels,” advises Dr. Garvey. “Many of the newer medications are effective in minimizing side effects such as hypoglycemia.”

• Exercise regularly You don’t have to run marathons to lower your risk of diabetes. “A regular walking program four times a week for 30 minutes is very effective,” says Dr. Garvey. To help you stick with a program, walk with a buddy who will hold you accountable.
• Stick to a healthy diet. It’s best to eat a balanced diet that is low in saturated fat, trans fat, and sugar. Increase you intake of fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats such as olive oil.
• Maintain a healthy weight. If you’re overweight – defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 – you’re at an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes. Find a weight loss program that works for you, and get back to a healthy weight.
• Control high blood pressure. This often silent health problem significantly increases your risk of diabetes, so be sure to get regular blood pressure checks to make sure it’s in the normal range. If your blood pressure is high, talk to your doctor about a medication to keep it under control.
• Watch your cholesterol levels. Dr. Garvey says studies of older adults in their 60s and 70s show that keeping LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels under 130 can help to lower the risk of heart disease. If you have abnormal cholesterol levels, talk to your doctor about lifestyle measures and medications that could help.