Healthy Eating

"More and more we have to realize that healthy eating, healthy sleeping and regular exercise are three important things that everyone should do".

HEALTHY EATING FOR SENIORS

    "Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." - Mark Twain

"Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul." - Samuel Ullman

For seniors, the benefits of healthy eating include increased mental acuteness, resistance to illness and disease, higher energy levels, faster recuperation times, and better management of chronic health problems. As we age, eating well can also be the key to a positive outlook and emotional balance.

How does the body change with ageing?

Ageing changes the body in many ways. In addition to decreasing mobility and heart function, sensory changes that affect meal intake can occur. Changes in the digestive tract affect digestion and absorption of food. Some older adults are at risk for malnutrition and unintended weight loss due to physiological changes associated with aging

Being aware that changes occur in the geriatric population is critically important. Geriatric patients are especially different due to the unique changes that occur in this population.

Visual

99% of the elderly population require corrective lenses. Age related macular degeneration is the number one cause of new onset blindness in adults.

 

Diabetes- eye care :

Diabetes can harm your eyes. It can damage the small blood vessels in your retina, the back part of your eye. This is called diabetic retinopathy. Diabetes also increases your risk of having glaucoma, cataracts, and other eye problems.
You may not know there is any damage to your eyes until the problem is very bad. Your doctor can catch problems early if you get regular eye exams.

To prevent diabetes eyeproblems :

You can do a lot to prevent diabetes eye problems.

• Keep your blood glucose and blood pressure as close to normal as you can.
  
• Have an eye care professional examine your eyes once a year. Have this exam even if your vision is OK. The eye care professional will use drops to make the black part of your eyes-pupils-bigger. This process is called dilating your pupil, which allows the eye care professional to see the back of your eye. Finding eye problems early and getting treatment right away will help prevent more serious problems later on.
  

Dilated eye:

Undilated eye.

• Ask your eye care professional to check for signs of cataracts and glaucoma. See What other eye problems can happen to people with diabetes? to learn more about cataracts and glaucoma.
  
• If you are planning to get pregnant soon, ask your doctor if you should have an eye exam.
  
• If you are pregnant and have diabetes, see an eye care professional during your first 3 months of pregnancy.
  
• Don't smoke.
  

                                                     
   

                  

                       

Diabetes Eyecare

Eye Care for People With Diabetes

Eye care is especially important for people with diabetes because they are at increased risk of developing eye complications from the disease. Blindness is 20 times more common in people with diabetes.

All people with diabetes should take precautions to help reduce their risk of developing eye problems. Here are some eye care tips.

   1. Schedule regular appointments with your eye doctor so that any eye problem can be detected early and treated.
   2. Maintain control of your blood glucose levels.
   3. Keep your blood pressure in control. High blood pressure by itself can lead to eye disease, so if you have high blood pressure as well as diabetes, it is especially important that you take steps to control both conditions.
   4. Eat a healthy diet.
   5. Avoid smoking.
   6. Exercise regularly.

Every year, you should have an eye exam by an eye doctor. Choose an eye doctor who takes care of people with diabetes.

The eye exam may include:

    * Dilating your eyes to allow a good view of the entire retina.
    * At times, special photographs of the back of your eye

Your eye doctor may ask you to come more or less often than every year.

You should make an appointment to see your eye doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:

    * Blurring of vision
    * Black spots
    * Flashes of light


For more information
http://www.mvdiabetesbangalore.in