A professional from Amedisys Home Health will present a 'Quality of Life' health seminar about diabetes at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011, at the Timbers of Shorewood, 1100 N. River Rd., Shorewood. The public is welcome to join the residents for this free presentation.
According to a study from researchers at the University of Chicago, if the current trend continues, the number of diabetes cases will nearly double in the next 25 years, rising from the current 23.7 million to 44.1 million in 2034. The cost of treating this many people will triple, rising from $113 billion $336 billion.
If and when that happens, it's a massive impact on senior care that will, in turn, have a bearing on an incalculable number of facilities, physicians, nurses, hospitals, etc. Medicare spending on diabetes will skyrocket from $45 billion to $171 billion. It's the domino effect for sure.
The predicted surge is driven by aging Baby Boomers or those born between 1946 and 1964. Presently the oldest boomer is 64, a senior citizen perhaps for admission to the movies, but a good 10 or 15 years away from assisted living arrangements. But decades can pass very quickly.
Luckily, there are a few things that can prevent such appalling numbers. A recent 10-year trial called the Diabetes Prevention Program showed that overweight people with elevated blood sugar levels who lost a modest amount of weight, lowered their risk of developing diabetes by at least a third. People age 60 and over saw even more dramatic results, cutting their risk of diabetes during the study period by about half.
If everyone would take three easy steps, the surge in diabetes might be better controlled:
- Lose weight
- Eat right (low fat, lower calories) most of the time
- Take a walk (or exercise) 30 minutes five days of the week.
The Timbers of Shorewood is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay - a weekend, a week, a month or longer.
For more information, call Shelly Goggins at 815-609-0669 or visit http://www.timbersofshorewood.com.
