Dibetes and mortality in the elderly

Until August 2010; 22 thousand 30 adults had been detected with diabetes in Mexico.

In an interview, Dr.María Esther Lozano Dávila . Deputy Director of Aging for Preventive Programs and Disease Control, talks about diabetes.

From 2000 to 2004 mortality from diabetes mellitus in the population aged 65 years and over was the second cause and from 2005 onwards it became the first cause of mortality. In 2009 there were 37 thousand 509 deaths derived from diabetes in the elderly sector, representing 12.8% of the older adult population.

Of 2,490 older adults who are being treated for diabetes (regardless of the phase in which it was acquired), only 41.3% are controlled. If the treatment is not followed to the letter or patients have a bad diet, it will not be possible to control diabetes.

More than half of the population has this conflict, which will lead to short or long-term complications.

The senior adjective is sometimes not aware of the importance of his treatment, perhaps because the doctor or the health team does not generate that awareness, or because the patient no longer has a good hearing or because he has a problem that prevents him from fully understanding it or the caregiver does not explain the importance of the treatment.

"If I have diabetes I must have hygienic-dietetic measures; as a controlled physical activity (established by a physical trainer or doctor), a balanced diet that must be prescribed by a doctor or a nutritionist (usually in portions), since you can eat everything. " In addition, I must take care of my skin, my bathroom, my feet, my toes, my clothes, etc.

The ideal team for diabetes care in the elderly is a multidisciplinary team with a first-level care physician who is well trained to work in a team with a nutritionist and a physical trainer, as well as a psychologist (because many people do not accept the condition), they live it as a duel and they have to overcome themselves in addition to understand each other.

This team has the responsibility to explain to the patient what are all the steps to follow, the complications of the disease, each time they schedule their visits to the doctor, their blood tests and how to keep track of their sugar.

The patient should not be left with doubts, if the terminology of the doctor is confusing, the patient must force the doctor to get down to his level to explain it in a very simple way, because if he is an older adult, he should go to have his nails or how to dry your feet and fingers after bathing. Since this can be the origin of infections that can reach amputations, so the patient should be very aware. From your personal care

If the older adult is no longer able to understand all this, the caregiver must have all the information clearly.

Diabetes is a public health problem, which is why it is a challenge for the health system, especially since we currently have an unhealthy lifestyle, which is why a greater boost of prevention actions is necessary to modify the factors of risk, are important, hereditary, family and lifestyles.


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