Senior Women with Diabetes

A woman of any age can get type 2 diabetes, but it is no surprise that it does tend to be 
more common for older women. If you are of senior age, you might have a higher 
concern about having diabetes, and experiencing some of the related complications. 
Take a look at the following information if this is something you are concerned about. 

Common Risks and Complications

Older women who have diabetes will first have some higher risks and complications. 
This is important to be aware of so that you can work closely with your doctor to avoid 
the potential complications. While anyone with diabetes has a risk of eye diseases and 
vision loss, the risk is greater when you get older. This includes with eye diseases like 
diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and blurry vision. You also have a higher risk for hearing 
loss, loss of your cognitive function, and mobility issues. By managing your blood sugar, 
you can avoid these and other complications as a result of your disease.

Managing Your Diabetes

In order to avoid these types of complications as a senior woman with diabetes, you 
need to make sure you manage your diabetes. The way you manage it will vary based 
on the type of diabetes, your age, and how severe it is for you. Some women will only 
need to change their lifestyle, like exercising and eating better, while others need insulin 
or have to check their blood sugar and take medications. Your doctor will continue 
monitoring your blood glucose levels and might change your treatments at a certain 
point. 

Changing Your Lifestyle

Healthy lifestyle changes are crucial when it comes to being a senior woman and 
managing diabetes. You should get regular exercise, get plenty of rest, and follow a 
healthy diet. These healthy lifestyle changes alongside your medical treatment will help 
you to manage your diabetes and live a fulfilling life even with this disease. 

Taking Care of Your Mental Health

One thing many people don’t realize about seniors and diabetes is that it can affect their 
mental health as well as physical health. This is due to many of the symptoms and side 
effects of diabetes. Perhaps changing your diet or lifestyle is a hard transition, or you 
are experiencing vision loss or nerve damage that is painful for you. It is important that 
you take your mental health seriously if you have diabetes.
