Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects women over 50 worldwide. It is caused when your blood sugar, or blood glucose, is too high. Glucose is your primary source of energy and comes from the foods you eat, and diabetes occurs when your body is unable to produce or use insulin effectively, resulting in high levels of glucose in your blood.
While it can affect anyone, women over the age of 50 are at an increased risk of developing the disease.
Understanding Diabetes
To understand diabetes, it’s important to know how your body uses glucose.
How Insulin Works
Insulin is a hormone that is released by the pancreas into your bloodstream. This occurs after you have eaten a meal, when the level of glucose (sugar) in your bloodstream is high. The insulin helps to move the glucose into your cells and thereby lowers your blood sugar level. The glucose that enters your cells can be used for immediate energy or stored for later use. Diabetes can result if:
- Your pancreas isn’t producing enough or any insulin at all
- Your body doesn’t respond properly to the effects of insulin
Causes of Diabetes
There are several factors that can contribute to the development of diabetes in women over the age of 50. The most common causes include:
- Family history: Women with a family history of the disease are at a higher risk of developing the disease themselves.
- Obesity: Being overweight or obese increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, particularly in women over 50.
- Food choices: Refined foods like heavily processed carbohydrates (white flour, white sugar, white rice), sugary drinks, saturated and trans fats, and processed meats all contribute to a higher risk.
- Sedentary lifestyle: Lack of physical activity can contribute to the development of the disease in women over 50.
- Hormonal changes: Changes in hormone levels during menopause can affect your body’s ability to produce and use insulin effectively.
- High blood pressure: Women over 50 with high blood pressure are at an increased risk of developing diabetes.
Types of Diabetes
There are three main types:
- Type 1 diabetes: This is an autoimmune disease in which your body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. This results in a lack of insulin in your body, which is necessary for glucose to enter the cells and provide energy. The development of Type 1 diabetes is thought to be influenced by hereditary genes, but that’s not believed to be the only causal factor. It’s usually diagnosed in children and young adults and requires insulin therapy for survival.
- Type 2 diabetes: This is a chronic condition that occurs when your body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn’t produce enough insulin to maintain normal blood glucose levels. Type 2 diabetes is often associated with lifestyle factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, and poor diet. It can be managed with lifestyle changes, oral medications, and/or insulin therapy.
- Gestational diabetes: This type occurs during pregnancy and usually goes away after the baby is born. It develops when your body is unable to produce enough insulin to meet the extra demands of pregnancy. It can increase the risk of complications during pregnancy and delivery, and it also increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Symptoms
Diabetes can be tricky to diagnose in its early stages, as many of the symptoms are mild and easily overlooked. The only way to determine if you have it is through blood tests that measure your blood glucose levels. However, it’s important to be aware of the signs in women over 50, as early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent serious complications.
Prediabetes
Prediabetes is a serious condition in which you have higher than normal blood sugar levels, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Most people who are prediabetic won’t know that they are, and without lifestyle changes, there is a high risk of developing the disease.
Common Symptoms of Diabetes:
- Increased thirst and urination: Women with diabetes may feel thirsty more often and need to urinate more frequently than usual.
- Fatigue: It can cause feelings of tiredness and weakness, even after getting enough rest.
- Blurred vision: High levels of glucose in the blood can cause blurry vision and other vision problems.
- Slow-healing wounds: Diabetes can slow down the body’s natural healing process, making it more difficult for wounds to heal.
- Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet: High blood sugar levels can damage nerves, causing numbness or tingling in your hands and feet.
Prevention
There are several things that women over 50 can do to reduce your risk of developing the disease. Some of the most effective prevention strategies include:
- Maintaining a healthy weight: Women who are overweight or obese are at a higher risk of becoming diabetic, so maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise is key.
- Eating a healthy diet: A diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins can help reduce your risk. Studies have shown that adults who experience food and nutrition insecurity are at greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes. People who cannot afford nutritious foods will instead have cheaper, lower-quality foods that are high in added sugars, sodium (salt), and saturated fats. This increases the chances of developing the disease.
- Getting regular exercise: Regular physical activity can help improve insulin sensitivity and reduce the risk of diabetes. Exercise also helps control your blood sugar levels and reduces your risk of heart disease.
- Managing stress: Although stress alone doesn’t cause diabetes, research shows a possible link between stress and the development of type 2 diabetes. High levels of stress hormones may cause insulin production to stop working properly and reduce the amount of insulin produced. Therefore, it’s important to find ways to manage stress levels.
- Regular health screenings: Diabetes isn’t always easy to spot, so it’s important to get tested if you notice any signs or symptoms. In fact, a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is often found when doing blood tests for other health conditions. Women over 50 should have regular health screenings to monitor blood glucose levels and other health markers.
Treatment
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, there are several treatment options available to help manage the disease. The most common treatments include:
- Medications: There are several medications available to help manage diabetes, including insulin, oral medications, and/or other injected medicines that help regulate blood sugar levels.
- Diet and exercise: A healthy diet and regular exercise are powerful tools when managing your diabetes. They can help improve insulin sensitivity and reduce the risk of complications associated with the disease. Consult a registered dietitian to create a meal plan that works for you. Try healthy twists on foods you like and don’t be afraid to try something new.
- Blood glucose monitoring: You’ll need close medical follow-up until your blood sugar levels stabilize. Monitor your blood glucose levels regularly to ensure they are within a healthy range.
- Regular check-ups: Go for regular check-ups with their healthcare provider to monitor your blood glucose levels and overall health.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that can have serious health consequences if left untreated. Women over 50 are at an increased risk of developing the disease, but there are several steps you can take to reduce your risk. Maintaining a healthy weight, eating a nutritious diet, getting exercise, and having regular health screenings can all help decrease your chances of getting it.
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, consult your doctor about the different treatment options available to help manage the disease and prevent complications. Be proactive when managing your condition so that you can maintain your health and enjoy good quality of life.
