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private-duty-care-for-seniors-with-diabetes
January 9, 2023
Senior care
Horizon

Steps To Fight Type 2 Diabetes At Any Age

Type 2 diabetes affects 18% of adults in the US, and numbers in kids is rising. It is also a big concern for our growing senior population. More and more people are being diagnosed with it each year.

The best cure for type 2 diabetes is prevention. If you already have diabetes then this article is for you! We will be covering the best ways to fight against Type 2 diabetes and possibly reverse the effects.

No one thing is the cause of diabetes, it happens from a combination of factors that are interconnected.

So to bring the body back into balance we have to treat it as a whole. The common treatment is medication, but that will not reverse the problem. To fix the problem we need to correct the problem within each cell.

You should always consult your doctor before you alter or change any medication that you might be taking and also be sure to follow all your medical professional’s advice.

Key Steps To Reverse Diabetes

Bringing Insulin Under Control

Bringing your insulin under control is the first step. Insulin resistance is what triggers diabetes, by balancing the body you can regain the proper insulin sensitivity and start to reverse the problem.

Avoiding Insulin Triggers

Begin by limiting your consumption of grains, processed carbohydrates and sugars, these are insulin triggers that cause spikes in blood sugar levels. Instead you should focus on healthy fats, green veggies and lean proteins, including, chicken, turkey and fish.

Balance Fat Intake

Another essential step is learning to balance your fats. Eating too much Omega-6 is a known factor in diabetes. Be aware of your intake of both Omega-6 and Omega-3 fats and bring their intake ratio to 1:1.

While adjustments to your diet are being made you might want to use a quality Omega-3 oil as a supplement. It’s recommended that you stay away from Omega-6 seed oil and any of their sources (be aware that these oils are used in most restaurants). A good natural source for Omega-3 is fatty fish, such as, sardines and salmon.

Intestinal Issues

To make sure you get the proper nutrients into the body you will need to fix any problems in the intestines. Many toxins and grains can cause damage to the lining of the intestines, this can cause leaky gut syndrome.

Antibiotic use or a poor diet can cause the beneficial bacteria of the gut to be depleted. This will cause nutrients to be absorbed poorly and result in improper digestion. Avoiding grains, removing toxins and taking a quality probiotic will help your intestines to start to heal.

Exercise

One of the best things up can do for your body is to exercise! Working out will increase the ability of your muscles to use insulin! Over time, this can help fix your body’s resistance to insulin.

According to research, the best type of exercise for your insulin levels is short bursts of high intensity activity. A study found that 6 minutes of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) done once a week is just as effective as 1 hour of moderate daily activity!

Weight Loss

Weight loss is a critical factor in controlling diabetes. Diabetes and obesity are interconnected and linked together. Studies have shown that losing weight will help to halt diabetes.

Exercise can increase your metabolism and help you to burn more calories. A healthy diet will give you the proper nutrients and reduce hunger cravings. These lifestyle improvements will help you lose unwanted weight and reverse your diabetes.

Stress Reduction

Stress can cause more health problems than almost any other factor, this is because almost all other factors cause stress. Stress increases cortisol levels and can lead to an imbalance in your hormones, issues with insulin and raises the risk of many types of illnesses.

Stress comes from many places, such as, from exposure to toxins, poor diet, and lack of sleep, emotional and mental sources. Learning to meditate, breathing and getting the proper amount of sleep can reduce stress levels while balancing your hormones and blood sugar.

Supplements

Your body needs the building blocks to fix itself. Supplements are a great source of these building blocks. The supplements that are commonly used to help diabetes are Omega-3 fatty acids, chromium, alpha lipoic acid, garlic, magnesium, cinnamon and coenzyme Q10.

Bottom Line

It is possible to reverse Type 2 diabetes and get your blood sugars under control, talk with your doctor and follow a smart plan to recovery.

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aging-and-mental-health-caregiver-help
June 3, 2022
Senior care
Horizon

Aging And Mental Health

According to the Mayo Clinic there are a number of physical and mental changes we go through as we get older. These include both noticeable and hidden physical changes as well as decreasing brain functions. (https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/aging/art-20046070).

Problems with memory and cognitive skills are recognized parts of aging and there are ways to combat this. What is less understood is that aging can also take a toll on our mental health beyond slowing brain function and this can lead to psychological issues.

Depression In Later Life

According to WebMD late-life depression may annually affect 6 million Americans over the age of 65. When it comes to late onset depression it tends to vary from that experienced by younger sufferers. This is because it is often the result of a person’s natural physical decline as they age. (https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depression-elderly).

Chronic illness and declining physical capabilities can actually cause those over 65 to become depressed. Feelings of not being as strong as they once were or impending concerns of mortality can deeply affect a person’s mental health. This type of depression can be far more long lasting than other forms likely due to the inability to vastly change the root concerns.

Anxiety In Later Life

Elder care expert Deborah Stone suggests that many people assume that anxiety decreases as we age, but that may be incorrect. Stone says that many older individuals who suffer anxiety may have experienced it for many years but have never been diagnosed. (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/caring-the-caregivers/202002/anxiety-and-panic-in-older-people).

The added problems and risks faced by older individuals can induce much higher levels of anxiety. Increasing infirmity physically brings the very real anxiety of a heightened risk of falling. This increased risk and the higher likelihood of injury as we age can make for a heightened level of anxiety.

Stress As We Age

Harvard Health suggests that as we age it can be increasingly more difficult for us to cope with stress. One of the major reasons for this is our physical decline which makes it harder to deal with the physical symptoms of stress. Our cardiovascular system is weakened and more at risk from the damage of high stress situations. (https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/does-stress-management-become-more-difficult-as-you-age).

Dementia

Poor mental health is not always a psychological issue that can be solved with therapy especially in later life. Conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia become a greater risk to those of advancing years. According to the Mayo Clinic  dementia can cause memory loss, communication issues, loss of reasoning capabilities, confusion, and disorientation. ( https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dementia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352013).

Caused by gradually developing brain deterioration these cognitive impairment conditions are manageable but generally incurable. As a result, sufferers experience a myriad of mental health issues including confusion, depression, anxiety and vastly altered moods.

Substance Abuse

Substance abuse is a global problem which can affect people of all ages but generally focus is placed on younger individuals. The American Addiction Centers suggests that addiction to substances such as alcohol can even begin in later life. (https://alcoholrehab.com/drug-addiction/effects/age-and-substance-abuse/).

Issues such as boredom, anxiety, loneliness, and depression can lead older individuals toward substance abuse as a way to cope with life. They also may be experiencing increasing pain as they get older which could lead to prescription drug addictions.

Final Thoughts

Old age is a time of massive change in people’s lives. They no longer feel young and they have less life ahead of them than they had in the 20s or 30s. It can become difficult to be optimistic and happy which can result in declining mental health.

The big problem is that it often goes unnoticed because people assume that they are just slowing down and maybe becoming cranky. In reality their mental health may be suffering and they may need some help to get through a difficult time in their lives.

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