Diabetes In Older Adults

Monday, May 17th, 2010 at 3:22 pm

Getting Older Is No Reason To Slow Down

The body's metabolism is seen as some mystical force that burns calories and helps keep our weight under control. But in reality it is our body's engine and it is the rate that we burn fuel.

When we are young we have the metabolism or engine power of a grunty V8 but in the latter stages of our life our engine size could be compared with that of a motor scooter. This is not just a process of aging but a process of us slowing down as we get older. After all we have always been told we should grow old "gracefully".

The rate of metabolism is determined by how much muscle mass you have. The more muscle mass you have, the more calories or fuel you burn every minute of the day regardless of what activity you are doing. Your muscle strength is a basic component of health, fitness and wellness and is crucial for the performance of everyday activities and recreational pursuits. In older adults muscular strength is considered to be the most important health related element of physical fitness.

As we get older, unless we take care of our muscles to keep them active and strong, they lose mass, get weaker and affect and slow our metabolism.

In an inactive person the rate that we lose this muscle mass is as much as 15% after age 50 up to age 70. Then after age 70, this process accelerates to 30% each decade.

So what does a slower metabolic rate mean to us? As muscles burn most of the calories your body uses and is the body's most active tissue when muscle mass diminishes metabolism is altered and many consequences result. It becomes easier to put on extra body fat especially in the abdominal area and the possibility of becoming obese increases.

This can lead to impaired glucose tolerance which is the inability of the body to efficiently control blood sugar levels. This condition can lead to diabetes and so called metabolic syndrome with its associated disorders. The increase in body fat also increases the risk for chronic conditions like cancer and heart disease and can lead to a reduction in the quality of life.

Muscle loss causes accelerated aging syndrome which leaves you feeling old and tired long before your time. If you have an expanding waistline, shrinking muscles and fitness, lack energy and enthusiasm for life, and are tired all the time you need to seriously get started on an exercise program that will rebuild lost strength.

A strength training program is what is needed along with some cardio interval training, so join your local gym and take advantage of expert instruction and supervision so you can turn this situation around as quickly as possible. You are lucky, with the knowledge we now have you get a second chance. In just a couple of months of a proper strength training program you can reverse several decades of muscle loss.

Do not allow the old idea that we must slow down as we get older. Inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle will erode your health and mobility and land you in a nursing home unless you take steps to stay strong and fit throughout your life. Increased muscle mass is the best retirement insurance to protect your future.
About the Author

Do you want to discover the secret to rejuvenating your body and regaining lost vitality and improving the quality of your life? Download my free ebook "I've Found the Fountain of Youth- Let Me Show You Too!" here: physical wellness Carolyn Hansen is a certified fitness expert and fitness center owner who coaches clients to look and feel younger.

What should a 4yr old childs blood glucose level be? Is it the same as for adults? Thank You for your answer.?

I noticed what I think is a sugar ring in the potty. I wanted to check my sons sugar before taking him to the doctor and looking like a fool if it it is nothing to be worried about. I know that diabetes is serious. We have a family history of this disease. But, often I overreact when it comes to my child. Maybe I am an overprotective mom but, I would rather be safe than sorry. Please Help. Thank You.

You shouldn't feel like a fool, this is your child and as the mom your job is to notice thigs like this. I have a friend whos husband is type 1 and when her 5 year old showed symptoms she called the doctor right away they told her her son was so lucky (he also had type 1 which is odd there is only a 3-5%chance of a child of a diabetic parent getting it)she noticed since they see so many kids in DKA by the time they are discovered to be diabetic.
The sugar level should be the same as an adult. Now andiabetic chil should keep his sugar a tad higher the 80 as the low (like 100 - 140) only because kids can't always tell a low like an adult and it doesn't take much for then to go low since kids are so active.

Internal Medicine Report: Young Adults and Prehypertension