By 2025, approximately 66 percent of all diabetics will be elderly, according to the article "Nutritional Challenges in the Elderly With Diabetes" by Dr. Ali Rizvi of the University of South Carolina. Whether the disease is the result of an autoimmune attack on the pancreas or the result of obesity, education on proper nutrition is vital for the diabetic elderly and their caretakers.
Diabetes Mellitus
The beta cells of the pancreas are responsible for releasing insulin, which is needed to prevent the glucose levels in the bloodstream from becoming too high. Diabetes mellitus type 1 is called an autoimmune disease because, instead of attacking a foreign substance, the immune system attacks the pancreas and destroys its beta cells. People with diabetes mellitus type 2 have a resistance to insulin because of their obesity. Gestational diabetes, on the other hand, happens when a women is pregnant and develops diabetes, though she was not diabetic before the pregnancy. Fortunately, in gestational diabetes, blood sugar typically returns to normal levels shortly after delivery.
The Diabetic Elderly and Nutrition
L. Ruiz-Arregui explains in the July 2010 issue of the "Revista de investigacion clinica; organo del Hospital de Enfermedades de la Nutricion" how important it is for the diabetic elderly and their caretakers to understand about diabetes mellitus, the disease and its complications. In addition, the nutritional treatment of the diabetic elderly is essential and involves changing their customs and habits of eating, as well as their habits of physical activity, keeping in mind they have had these customs for many years of their life.
Nutritional Recommendations
In the January 2002 issue of "Diabetes Care," Marion Franz and her colleagues wrote about the nutritional recommendations for the diabetic elderly. The recommendations include having carbohydrates for 60 to 70 percent of the total energy needs for the day by eating fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and by drinking low-fat milk. The cholesterol level should be less than 300 mg a day, but it may be better for some to have less than 200 mg a day. And everyone should keep saturated fats to less than 10 percent of their total daily energy needs.
Clinical Studies
Rizvi writes in his article about several studies regarding the effect on the diabetic elderly of changes in their eating habits. One study was a nutrition education program that taught the importance of eating whole grain food. It involved 84 people, at an average age of 77 years old, who increased the amount of whole grain in their diet after the education program. Other studies taught the importance of reading food labels and making good decisions in managing diabetes. Yet another demonstrated the importance of consulting with a certified diabetic educator or a registered dietician.
References
- "Diabetes Care"; Evidence-Based Nutrition Principles and Recommendations for the Treatment and Prevention of Diabetes and Related Complications; Marion J. Franz, R.D., C.D.E., et al.; January 2002
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine"; Anthony Fauci, M.D., et al.; 2008
- "International Journal of Diabetes Mellitus"; Nutritional Challenges in the Elderly With Diabetes; Ali A. Rizvi; 2009
- "Revista de investigacion clinica; organo del Hospital de Enfermedades de la Nutricion"; Nutrition and Diabetes in the Elderly; L. Ruiz-Arregui, et al.; July 2010
