For current elderly diabetics,
diet and exercise are vital. Portion sizes need to be monitored and blood-sugar
levels constantly checked. Many new studies and diets, such as the Atkins Diet,
have shown that low-carbohydrate diets as opposed to low-fat diets are often
beneficial for diabetics and non-diabetics alike. Regardless, the medical
community seems to be united in the theory that portion sizes need to be kept
small and consistent for the best overall health.
As for exercise, there are many groups available at places lime
YMCAs and YWCAs that offer swimming and walking classes. Also, many elderly
people take advantage of local malls to provide a walk with plenty of places to
sit and interesting scenery. For elderly people who get almost no exercise,
anything is good. Walking to the mailbox, walking to the television to change
the channel, any movement you add to your day is a positive move, Leontos said.
“It’s a little bit of a paradigm
switch in how we treat older people with diabetes,” Leontos said.
“When we look at longevity,
medical research has concentrated a lot on how to keep people alive and have
done a pretty good job. I think we’re getting to the point where we are talking
about quality of life, so that we don’t have old sick people, we have old
healthy people,” she said.