November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and marks an important time in the lives of older adults since the risk and incidence of diabetes increases with age. Diabetes is more than just high blood sugar and can result in complications such as loss of eye sight, lower extremity amputations, neuropathy and an increase in cardiovascular disease such as heart attack and stroke. Yet there is another concern regarding diabetes as we age and that is our memory health.
Scientists have documented in several recent studies that poorly managed diabetes and/or “metabolic syndrome” speeds up the process of “neuroaging”. What this means is that our brains may decline faster than if we didn’t have this condition. This puts us at increased risk of memory loss.
“Metabolic Syndrome” is a set of risk factors that includes: abdominal obesity, a decreased ability to process glucose (increased blood glucose and/or insulin resistance), dyslipidemia, and hypertension.
The proof- A recent study presented at the International Conference of Alzheimer’s by Dr. Roriz-Cruz showed that those with metabolic syndrome showed more rapid decline in cognitive function as compared to age-matched controls WITHOUT metabolic syndrome, 47% vs. 13%. Dr. Roriz-Cruz concluded his presentation by saying that “People with metabolic syndrome age faster, not only in terms of vascular aging (as is already known) but also in terms of “neuroaging”.
So what to do? Learn more about the successful management of diabetes outlined in the AADE 7- the 7 healthy habits to successfully manage diabetes, and they are: Healthy Eating, Being Active, Monitoring, Taking Medication, Problem Solving, Reducing Risks and Healthy Coping. AADE stands for American Association of Diabetes Educators.
Taking inventory of the AADE 7. Rate yourself in each area on how you have been functioning the last several weeks in order to learn where you can do a little bit more to stay healthy and function independently longer. Consider writing down HOW you perform specific tasks in each of these areas, for example: “I eat smaller portions at each meal and have cut out 250 calories each day and lost 7 lbs.”
Healthy Eating- (write down how you think you are doing)
A= I aced the test! B= I’m doing fairly well
C= OK. More work to do D= Time to re-evaluate
Being Active- (write down how you think you are doing)
A= I aced the test! B= I’m doing fairly well
C= OK. More work to do D= Time to re-evaluate
Monitoring- (write down how you think you are doing)
A= I aced the test! B= I’m doing fairly well
C= OK. More work to do D= Time to re-evaluate
Taking Medication- (write down how you think you are doing)
A= I aced the test! B= I’m doing fairly well
C= OK. More work to do D= Time to re-evaluate
Problem Solving- (write down how you think you are doing)
A= I aced the test! B= I’m doing fairly well
C= OK. More work to do D= Time to re-evaluate
Reducing Risks- (write down how you think you are doing)
A= I aced the test! B= I’m doing fairly well
C= OK. More work to do D= Time to re-evaluate
