How Does Age Affect Diabetes?

As we age, our bodies undergo a variety of changes that can impact our overall health, including how we manage blood sugar levels.

Although we’re seeing growing numbers of younger people with diabetes, the risk of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes become more prevalent with age.

Understanding how age affects our bodies, and particularly diabetes, is crucial for prevention and effective management.

The Relationship Between Age and Diabetes

The risk of developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes increases with age, and this can be attributed to several physiological factors.

Decreased Insulin Sensitivity: Over time, our cells may become less responsive to insulin, the hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar levels. This condition, known as insulin resistance, is a significant risk factor for developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Changes in Body Composition: Aging is often accompanied by an increase in body fat, particularly around the abdomen, and a decrease in muscle mass. This shift in body composition can promote insulin resistance and make blood sugar levels harder to control.

Pancreatic Function Decline: The pancreas, which produces insulin, may become less efficient with age. This decline in pancreatic function can contribute to the development of diabetes.

Altered Metabolism: As we age, our metabolism tends to slow down. A slower metabolism can lead to weight gain, which is a major risk factor for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Increased Inflammation: Chronic low-grade inflammation is more common in older adults and has been linked to the development of insulin resistance and diabetes.

While all these things can be contributing factors, they can also be mitigated with proper diet and nutrition.

Diabetes Timeline: What to Expect at Different Ages

To better understand how age can impact diabetes, let’s look at what people might experience in different age groups:

Ages 25-40: Early Adulthood

• Risk Factors: At this stage, the risk of developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes is generally lower, but lifestyle factors such as diet, physical activity, and weight can set the stage for future risk. Genetics and family history also play a role, and individuals with a family history of diabetes should be particularly vigilant.
• Early Signs: If prediabetes develops, it may go unnoticed as symptoms can be subtle. Regular screenings are important, especially if risk factors like overweight/obesity, high blood pressure, or a sedentary lifestyle are present.
• Be Proactive: We know that each year delaying a diagnosis is powerful in terms of decreasing risk of diabetes and risk of complications so the earlier you detect symptoms and get proactive, the better.

Ages 40-55: Middle Adulthood

• Increased Risk: This age range marks a significant increase in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance often begins to develop, and changes in body composition, such as increased abdominal fat, become more pronounced.
• Symptoms to Watch: Symptoms of diabetes, such as increased thirst, frequent urination, and fatigue, may start to appear. However, these symptoms are often dismissed as signs of aging, or not recognized at all, leading to delayed diagnosis. Regular health check-ups become increasingly important.
• Be Proactive: The body doesn’t quite bounce back or respond like it used to, so this time of life requires you to make more of a commitment to prioritize your health. Focus on building sustainable habits like following a balanced low carb nutrition plan and doing consistent physical activity, including weight training and resistance exercise to prevent muscle loss. Importantly, don’t dismiss subtle signs and symptoms and adjust your action plan as needed.

Ages 55 to 65: Older Adulthood

• Diabetes Management: By this stage, people are at much greater risk of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. If overweight with high blood pressure and cholesterol, this indicates you really need to get proactive to change your health.
• Complications Risk: Don’t stick your head in the sand because age already increases our risk of other health issues. With prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, the risk of diabetes-related complications, such as cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, and kidney problems, increases with age too. Regular health screenings for these complications are essential. Preventive care, including regular eye exams, foot care, and monitoring for signs of complications, should be a priority.
• Be Proactive: Proactively managing your blood sugar, weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels can make a huge difference in reducing your diabetes risk and toward diabetes treatment as well. Incorporate strength training and cardiovascular exercise into your routine to combat muscle loss and improve insulin sensitivity. Don’t wait for symptoms—engage in preventive care like eye exams, foot checks, and regular screenings to catch potential issues early.

Ages 66 and Beyond: Late Adulthood

• Managing Multiple Conditions: By this stage, diabetes management can becomes more complex if you face multiple health conditions, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, or arthritis. But that certainly doesn’t mean all is lost, not at all! We have members in their 80s who have completely changed their health. The key is to achieve and maintaining stable blood sugar levels, that’s critical.
• Increased Sensitivity to Medications: In late adulthood, people can experience a heightened sensitivity to diabetes medications. Taking too many medications can be a key driver in this issue, which is why we encourage people to minimize medication as much as possible. With the guidance of our programs and services and consultation with your doctor, you can work toward deprescribing medications.
• Risk of hyPOglycemia (low blood sugar): Another important thing to note is that if you take sulfonylureas or insulin, your risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) increases with age. Another good reason to try to minimize medication and prevent going in insulin if possible.
• Prioritize Health Monitoring: The risk of diabetes-related complications such as vision loss, kidney disease, and cardiovascular issues can become higher in late adulthood. But that’s only if you aren’t diligent with getting and keeping your blood sugar levels in the healthy range. Prolonged high blood sugar causes complications. Also, regular screenings are really important for your preventative care, including foot checks, blood pressure monitoring, cholesterol and blood sugar control. This can help detect problems early and manage them more effectively.
• Be Proactive: Don’t be discouraged by age because being proactive can still yield great results, even in your 70s and 80s. Focus on keeping blood sugar levels stable by minimizing medications where possible and maintaining a balanced nutrition plan rich in whole foods. Stay active, including resistance and strength training. And become part of a diabetes community that can support your health goals.

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Gender-Specific Factors in Diabetes: What Men and Women Should Know

Women: Perimenopause and Menopause

Hormonal Changes: During perimenopause and menopause, women experience significant hormonal fluctuations, particularly a decrease in estrogen levels. Estrogen plays a role in insulin sensitivity, so its decline can lead to increased insulin resistance, making it more challenging to control blood sugar levels, and leading to a higher risk of prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.

Weight Gain: Many women experience weight gain during perimenopause and menopause, particularly around the abdomen. This central obesity is a major risk factor for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, as it increases insulin resistance and low-grade systemic inflammation.

Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: The risk of cardiovascular disease rises after menopause. This is due to decline in estrogen, increased insulin resistance and weight gain around the mid section. Since diabetes is closely linked to heart health, managing blood sugar levels becomes even more critical during this time.

Bone Health: Women with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis, a condition that becomes more common after menopause due to the loss of bone density. Maintaining a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, along with weight-bearing exercises, is important to support bone health.

Managing Symptoms and Blood Sugar: Hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and mood swings are common symptoms of menopause that can affect diabetes management. Poor sleep, in particular, can lead to higher blood sugar levels. Women may need to adjust their diabetes management plan, including diet, exercise, and if necessary, medication, to better control blood sugar during this transition.

Men: Testosterone Levels and Diabetes Risk & Management

Testosterone and Insulin Sensitivity: Low testosterone levels, which become more common as men age, have been linked to insulin resistance. Men with low testosterone are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Visceral Fat Accumulation: Similar to women, men tend to gain weight as they age, particularly in the abdominal area. This increase in visceral fat can exacerbate insulin resistance, lead to low-grade systemic inflammation and heighten the risk of diabetes.

Muscle Mass Decline: Men experience a decline in muscle mass as they age, which can lead to a slower metabolism and weight gain. Since muscle tissue plays a key role in glucose uptake, maintaining muscle mass through resistance training can help improve insulin sensitivity and manage blood sugar levels.

Erectile Dysfunction: Diabetes can cause erectile dysfunction (ED) due to damage to blood vessels and nerves. ED can also be an early warning sign of cardiovascular disease, which is a major concern for men with diabetes. Managing blood sugar levels and addressing cardiovascular health are crucial for preventing or treating ED.

Proactive Health Screenings: Men are generally less likely than women to seek regular health check-ups, which can delay the diagnosis and management of diabetes. It’s important for men to engage in regular screenings for diabetes, especially if they have other risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure, or a family history of diabetes.

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Positive Steps to Take at Any Age

While age certainly plays a role in the development and management of diabetes, the good news is that you can take proactive steps to protect your health at any stage of life.

If you are diagnosed with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, you can also take targeted proactive steps to reverse your health in the opposite direction, even if you are in your 70s or 80s!

The primary focus to prevent or reverse diabetes is diet and nutrition. Diet and nutrition are the most important part of your treatment (or prevention)!

Research consistently shows that dietary and lifestyle changes are more effective than medication in preventing and managing diabetes. If you focus your energy there, you can completely change your diabetes health.

Of course, for you there may be certain things that are out of your control. The key here is to focus on what you can control. For example, you can control what’s on your plate (most of the time) and the movement you do each day – every small step counts.

It’s always important to stay engaged with your health, have your regular check-ups and screenings – don’t avoid these.

Most importantly, stay educated about how your body changes with age, stay educated about your diabetes, such as listening to the Type 2 Diabetes Talk podcast, reading the DMP blog or joining us as a member. These are all things that can empower you to take control.

Knowledge is power, and staying on top of your health will help you live a vibrant life, no matter your age!

The Bottom Line: Age is just one factor when it comes to diabetes, and while it can present challenges, it’s never too late to make impactful changes.

By focusing on the steps you can take now, you can feel empowered at any age!