Diabetes in the Elderly

Diabetes is a serious disease among the elderly. Today I read an article about Tom Brady's football mentor who has been told he only has 1 month to live due to complications that arose from his lifelong struggle with diabetes. And I am working with a 86 yo male who has had both of his legs amputated due to diabetes. I never knew how extreme complications from diabetes can be until now. We studied DM in class last semester, but it did not click until now. My father even had diabetes, but he was able to easily manage it by cutting back on sugary foods & drinks.

http://www.diabeticcareservices.com/diabetes-education/hypoglycemia-and-hyperglycemia-and-the-elderly

The website above states that about 20% of people over 65 years old are affected by diabetes, & almost 1/2 of those with diabetes do not control their blood glucose levels properly. The cost of diabetes in 2007 was about $174 BILLION... that's alot of money!

The website also includes some of the symptoms of diabetes. Some of the symptoms include: cold, clammy skin; blurred vision, headache or dizziness; irritability or confusion; increased thirst or urination; sweet odor to breath; fatigue. It's a good refresher as to what to look for when working with pts.