2023-09-16 00:04:04
Life Expectancy Rises for People with Diabetes, but Challenges Remain in Old Age
With advancements in healthcare, people with diabetes are living longer than ever before. While this is great news, it also presents a new challenge for individuals and their families as they age. The need for insulin treatment in old age can be difficult to manage, but there are ways to provide necessary support.
Dr. Matthias Riedl, a diabetologist and medical director of the Medicum Hamburg, highlights some signs that indicate a person with diabetes may need additional support as they age. These signs include decreasing blood sugar levels, discomfort in the feet and legs, poorer vision, increased thirst, frequent urination, irregular medication intake, and rapid weight changes. Recognizing these signs and offering help can greatly improve the quality of life for individuals with diabetes.
To address the challenges associated with insulin treatment in old age, it is important for individuals and their families to consult with their family doctor, diabetes team, and other professional groups involved in their care. The German Diabetes Society (DDG) emphasizes the importance of maintaining quality of life and avoiding hypoglycemia in older adults with diabetes. The focus shifts from the HbA1c value to overall well-being.
Providing assistance goes beyond the administration of insulin and blood sugar testing. Dr. Riedl suggests that nursing relatives ensure that the affected person follows a healthy diet to prevent drastic fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Regular doctor’s appointments, check-ups, and exercise are equally important. For insulin therapy, Dr. Riedl recommends using Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) devices that continuously measure glucose levels through a sensor. These devices can transmit data to a cloud, allowing the diabetes team to monitor blood sugar trends, and some devices have follow-up functions that enable relatives to keep track of blood sugar levels on their smartphone.
To boost caregivers’ confidence in managing diabetes, training programs focused on diabetes care are available. These courses cover interpretation of blood sugar values, insulin pump functionalities, reading measuring devices, and insulin injections. In cases where relatives are no longer able to provide care, calling in a nursing service for daily diabetes management is recommended.
The DDG has implemented additional training for diabetic nurses to ensure comprehensive and guideline-compliant diabetological care. The treating doctor can issue a care prescription that is submitted to an outpatient care service, which takes care of planning and billing with the health insurance company. Family doctors and diabetologists can provide recommendations for reputable nursing services, and the nursing insurance fund also offers a list of regional nursing services.
As life expectancy continues to increase for people with diabetes, it is crucial to enhance care strategies for managing insulin treatment in old age. By involving healthcare professionals and utilizing available resources, individuals and their families can ensure a better quality of life and improved diabetes management.]
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