Diabetic seniors should take proper diet to lessen the risk of complications due to symptoms and for diabetes prevention and management.

Living with diabetes can be quite tough and difficult, especially for seniors. Everyday you got the heavy barrier to do what you want – and eat what you want! And these are the common boulders that you have to jump over.

What goes along as we age is the increased risk of certain complications in our body – and this should require strict attention and care for as much as possible to alleviate them.

Some of the major complications that most diabetic seniors face are obesity, fatigue, and vision problems. Diabetes mellitus, or often referred to as Diabetes is a metabolic disease concerning the high blood sugar (blood glucose) due to the inadequate insulin production or the improper response of body cells to insulin. This type of disease is no longer new, especially to seniors. With diabetes, a lot of complications could also come along to the package.

As being recorded in 2013, over 382 million people were estimated to be positive with diabetes throughout the world. (Williams textbook of Endocrinology) This has become a concerning issue especially in the US where 20% of Americans age 65 and above are being affected by diabetes.

Aside from the symptoms and other health-related problems caused by diabetes, it can also bring our major expenses upon treatment.

Yet, those seniors who have a keen observation of their diet and lifestyle tend to have lesser complications with diabetes.

Health panels and nutrition experts claim that not only weight loss but as well as proper diet can do great wonders in having a healthy heart and for controlling diabetes. A few simple steps are just easy to follow and economical!

Well-rounded Diet with Extra Protein

Meals for seniors must be Rich in Protein and low in calories. According to Any Campbell, as we humans grow older, we must lessen our calorie intake. She suggested that traditional organic meals like lentils, chickpeas, and beans can be considered as great sources of inexpensive protein to a round out meals, aside from making a plain meal with cereal, toasts, and tea.

Animal protein is not necessary for an everyday meal, instead, they can be converted into cheap raw veggies that essentially counts upon fighting off diabetes.

Goodness in Nature

Another health expert, Michael Davidson from the University of Chicago Medical Center, says that the “paleo diet” though lower-ranking among Best Diets, can be considered as a good and effective diet for all. Paleo diet is a diet based on types of food eaten by early humans – all fresh and zero in chemicals and preservatives – like fresh meat, vegetables, fish, and fruits, and excluding grain and dairy products and processed foods.

It has proven a track record that early people have longer span of life with the kind of diet they have. Sticking to the goodness found in nature is the best alternative that can mitigate all complications in health – and all health and nutrition essentials are just found around us!

On Diabetes

DASH and the Mediterranean diet are proven to be the “good” diet for helping seniors with both diabetes prevention and management according to Campbell.

• Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension or DASH diet is proven to reduce cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and improve insulin sensitivity. This involves traditional low sodium or low salt diet advice and a meal plan rich in vegetables, fruits, nonfat or low-fat dairy. It also emphasizes whole grains rich in magnesium, fiber, potassium, and calcium rather than refined grains.
• Mediterranean Diet is based on a means of traditional foods (and drinks) of countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. It is considered as a great way to lose weight and improve health. It is a lifestyle – including activities, foods, wine in moderation, and meals with family and friends. Examples of Mediterranean foods are a salad, whole-grain pasta with vegetables, sauteed spinach with lemon, and creamy hummus with warm pita. Mediterranean diet helps keep weight under control and lowers cholesterol level and blood pressure.

A proper choice of food intake and snack time can be the key to a healthy body and mind. Having a proper right meal plan can help you improve your blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol number and can also help keep your weight on the right track.

Diabetes may last a lifetime though, but their symptoms can be treatable without medication – so you have to worry that much no more! All you have to do is to have the proper combination of diet, exercise, and body weight control.