Do complications of type 2 diabetes increase with age? What are the other risk factors?
Although type 2 diabetes can be diagnosed at any age, there are individuals of a certain age that are more at risk than others due to varying risk factors. The scary part of diabetes is that one in four people have diabetes and don’t know it, and may go years without diagnosis causing further complications. The complications of type 2 diabetes in general occur in those who are older because of many factors that go along with age.
What are the early signs of diabetes? Click here to learn more.
On the flip side, there are many steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of diabetes complications at any age. Continue reading to find out what are specific complications of diabetes type 2 and what can be done to reduce these complications.
Risk Factors and Complications of Diabetes Type 2
The impact of age and complications of type 2 diabetes can sometimes be difficult to control, but if diagnosed and treated correctly, managing diabetes can be much easier. Correctly managing diabetes is one of the best ways to avoid complications.
What this means is that there should be good communications between individual and doctor as well as a good understanding of how to manage blood sugar levels as well as blood pressure and cholesterol. Other than age there are a few factors that can play a role in the development of diabetes complications and they are:
- Lifestyle
- Habits
- Gender
- Race
- Socioeconomic status
- Weight
- Medical history
Common Complications of Type 2 Diabetes Can Include:
- High Blood Pressure
- High Cholesterol
- Peripheral Artery Disease
- Kidney Disease
- Nerve Damage
- Vision Loss
In order to manage and lower the risk of complications of type 2 diabetes some changes may need to be made to lifestyle habits. Continue reading to learn more about how to lower your risk for diabetes complications.
Lifestyle Habits and Changes to Avoid Complications of Diabetes Type 2
If you are over the age of 45 and have diabetes or are at risk for developing diabetes there are a few lifestyle changes that can be made to not only help manage blood sugar levels but also reduce the risk of complications of type 2 diabetes. These habits can help you live a healthier life and are as follows:
Manage stress – weather you speak to your doctor about the management of stress or you add exercise to your diet, managing stress is important
Sleep – Ensuring that you are getting the recommended hours of sleep for your age can help your body recover quicker and make you feel better
Get Exercise Weekly – doing around 30 minutes of exercise 3-5 days a week by mixing aerobic and muscle strengthening can help burn fat and keep the heart healthy
Smoke – Stop smoking. Period
Healthy Eating Habits – by eating a well-balanced diet the body is able to get the various nutrients that it needs and can even help shed extra pounds
Alcohol – limit consumption of alcohol to avoid health complications
If your doctor believes that you are at high risk for developing diabetes complications they may recommend seeing a specialist that can help with certain health conditions. The important thing to keep in mind is how to lead the healthiest lifestyle possible to make sure that no general health complications develop.
If you have diabetes and you notice a change in your health, either physical or mental, it’s important to speak to a medical professional because the sooner you do so the quicker something can be diagnosed (if need be) and treated.
Don’t wait until the changes are severe because early detection and diagnosis is key.