Sept. 20, 2007

AMARILLO – Diabetes is a serious disease at any age, but it is especially serious for older adults, said Andrew B. Crocker, Texas Cooperative Extension specialist on aging.

Risk factors for diabetes include high blood pressure, high cholesterol and a sedentary lifestyle, Crocker said. As people age, they are more prone to have one or more of these.

A prevention program conducted by the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases showed that weight loss by healthy eating and frequent exercise helped reduce the development of diabetes, he said.

Lifestyle changes were especially effective for people age 60 and older, reducing the development of diabetes by 71 percent, Crocker said.

There are two types of diabetes: Type 1, formerly known as juvenile diabetes, where the body does not produce insulin; and Type 2, where the body produces insulin but does not use it in the right way. This type was formerly called adult-onset diabetes.

Diabetes can develop when the level of sugar in the blood, also known as glucose, is too high, Crocker said. Managing glucose levels may help control the disease and prevent or delay future problems.

Resarch shows blood glucose levels can increase with age, he said, especially if there is weight gain and fat builds up around the waist.

"Your body changes the food you eat into glucose to feed the cells that make up your body," Crocker said. "The cells cannot process the sugar alone, so you produce a hormone called insulin to help."

People with diabetes either do not make insulin, do not use insulin properly or both, he said. As a result, they often feel tired, hungry or thirsty; they may lose weight, urinate often or have trouble with their eyes. Diabetes may also cause heart disease, strokes and even the need to remove all or part of a limb.

Diabetes tends to run in families, but other factors may add to the risk of developing diabetes, Crocker said. Research is constantly looking at what causes diabetes and how best to manage it.

While questions persist, what is known is "careful control of blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol can help prevent or delay diabetes and its complications," he said.

Many people with Type 2 diabetes have few or no symptoms. For some people, feeling run down is their only symptom.

It is important to tell your health provider right away if persistent thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, blurred vision, skin infections or slow healing cuts and bruises become a problem, Crocker said..

"Your health provider may diagnose diabetes by reviewing your symptoms and checking your blood glucose levels," he said. "One test measures your blood glucose level after eating or drinking nothing for at least eight hours, usually overnight."

In another test, blood glucose is checked, and then a sugary beverage is consumed, Crocker said. Diagnosis is confirmed after a repeat test on a different day.

Measures to help control diabetes include:

– Meal planning and eating correctly, including understanding how different foods affect glucose levels.

– Physical activity.

– Medications, including oral medicines, insulin, or a combination of both.

"You should regularly check blood glucose levels and monitor your blood pressure and cholesterol," Crocker said.

Some other checks he advised getting performed regularly by a health provider include: – People with diabetes should have an eye exam every year. Finding and treating eye problems early can help prevent more serious conditions later on. – A yearly urine test for a protein called albumin will show whether the kidneys are affected by diabetes.

– People with diabetes should check their feet every day and watch for any redness or patches of heat. Sores, blisters, breaks in the skin, infections, or build-up of calluses should be checked right away by your health provider.

– People with diabetes can protect their skin by keeping it clean, using skin softeners to treat dryness and taking care of minor cuts and bruises to prevent infections and other problems.

– Teeth and gums need special attention to avoid serious infections.

Medicare may cover tests to check for diabetes and the cost of supplies such as glucose monitors, test strips and lancets. It may also pay for educational programs, foot exams and other services for diabetics.

For more information about coverage, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or visit Medicare's Web site: www.medicare.gov .

For more information about diabetes and programs offered in a particular county, visit the Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Web site http://fcs.tamu.edu/health/type_2_diabetes/type_2_diabetes.php

Addition information can be found through the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, a service of the National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov .