World Diabetes Day was staged Nov. 14, but it’s never too late to remind people that diabetes is an increasingly serious health issue, particularly for older adults.
In Georgia, approximately 72 percent of individuals 65 or older have diabetes or prediabetes. In Atlanta alone, there are more than 80,000 older adults who have prediabetes. Most don’t know it, which presents a great threat to their quality of life and independence.
The good news is that diabetes can often be prevented, and those afflicted can take simple steps to control it. As the Area Agency on Aging for the 10-county region, the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) supports programs to help older adults remain healthy and independent. That’s why we collaborate with several partners to reach older adults with information about ways to manage their diabetes.
For the past year through the Medicare Diabetes Screening Project, the Atlanta Regional Commission has informed older adults about the importance of checking for diabetes and the lifestyle changes that can help. The commission is also spreading word about the Metro Atlanta YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program.
For those with prediabetes, the program can help prevent the onset of full diabetes. Participants in this 16-session program receive coaching and counseling on nutrition and ways to increase physical activity. After the initial sessions, participants meet monthly for added support to help maintain progress. The first 200 adults 65 or older in the region who are overweight and have received a diagnosis of prediabetes are able to participate in the program for free.
Diabetes is a leading cause of strokes, heart attacks, blindness and amputations — and it is the country’s seventh leading cause of death. The increase in the number of Americans with diabetes places an increased financial burden on our health care system.
Research conducted by the National Institutes of Health has shown that older adults can reduce their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by as much as 71 percent by participating in lifestyle modification programs such as the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program. A recent Emory University study showed that these types of prevention programs can save more than $7 billion in Medicare costs.
The Atlanta Regional Commission and regional RSVP volunteers — trained volunteers age 55 and older — who serve seniors are reaching out to let them know that Medicare now covers free annual diabetes screenings with no co-pay and no deductible for those at risk. These volunteers also deliver messages about diabetes prevention and the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program.
ARC believes that by empowering seniors and providing them with the right information and tools, they can be successful in preventing diabetes.
For information or to enroll in the program, contact Linda Vaughn, Metro Atlanta YMCA, at 404-527-7690, or email preventdiabetes@ymcaatlanta.org. You may also visit www.getajumpondiabetes.org to learn more.
Cathie Berger is director of the Area Agency on Aging at the Atlanta Regional Commission.
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