As people grow older, they have a higher risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, which is the most common form of diabetes. In Type 2, either the body does not produce enough insulin (which the body needs to use glucose for energy) or the cells ignore the insulin, resulting in elevated glucose levels in the blood. Continually elevated blood glucose levels can put diabetics at risk for numerous health problems, including damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and blood vessels. That’s why it’s important to try to keep blood glucose levels within an acceptable range. Type 2 can often be managed with diet, exercise, and oral medications, although some individuals may need insulin. |
ABC's for Managing Diabetes
Learn the important numbers to keep track of to manage your diabetes.
What is Diabetes
Learn more about diabetes and why it is so important to manage diabetes to prevent other health problems.
Take Care of Yourself and Your Diabetes
Learn about the healthcare professionals that can help seniors manage diabetes.
Living with Diabetes
Learn how healthy nutrition and physical activity, as well as a healthy state of mind, help seniors living with diabetes.
Routine Care for Your Diabetes
Find a checklist of routine healthcare tests to help manage diabetes.
Diabetes Care Record
Manage your diabetes with regular checkups and an up-to-date record of important health factors.
Diabetes Resources
Find additional resources to learn more about prevention and managing diabetes.
Diabetes Health Tip
Remember to brush and floss regularly. Seniors with diabetes are more likely to develop periodontal disease. Gum disease can lead to more serious senior health problems. Learn more about research from Denmark linking gum disease and diabetes.
“We have known that people with diabetes are more susceptible to periodontal diseases and have more severe disease,” said Preston D. Miller, DDS and AAP president. “This breakthrough research shows having periodontal disease may aggravate prediabetes, which is a precursor for diabetes. These findings underscore the importance of taking good care of your teeth and gums: it may be a simple way to prevent diabetes, or to prevent the progression of diabetes.”
Learn how Periodontal Diseases May Aggravate Prediabetic Characteristics on the American Academy of Periodontology website.
Learn more about Diabetes
Read more about diabetes on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.Download free brochures on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) website.
For specific questions call 1-800-CDC-INFO
1-888-232-6348 TTY
Diabetes Diet Programs
A diabetic meal replacement program with Medifast is based on the dietary guidelines of the American Diabetes Association (ADA). After 34 weeks, 24 percent of Medifast users decreased or eliminated their diabetes medication.
