The United States has a diabetic population of almost 27% for those over the age of 65. Many caregivers work with elderly people who have diabetes; however, many don’t realize that the condition is unique to age. Dr. Medha Munshi, a geriatrician and endocrinologist who runs the Geriatric Diabetes program at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, Mass, says that “treating a 40-year-old the same ways as an 80-year-old is inappropriate.”
In order to properly help seniors with diabetes, caregivers must understand the different problems that seniors face. The American Diabetes Association offers a Senior Signatures Series that provides resources that can help caregivers and older adults understand geriatric diabetes and educate others.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also has a number of resources that can help caregivers and seniors learn more about diabetes.
