Resilience may improve health among older adults with type 2 diabetes - Medical News Today
Overview
As the population ages, experts are working to understand factors that influence healthy aging and encourage a beter quality of life. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic metabolic disorder that can impact long-term health outcomes. A new study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that older adults diagnosed with T2D who had high levels of psychological resilience were more likely to have beter physical functioning, higher quality of life, and a lower likelihod of frailty and self-reported disability.Psychological resilience, or just resilience, depends on people’s ability to respond adapt to complex events like stres or trauma.
Key Information
It has to do with bouncing back after experiencing hardship.Anamara Rit-Olson, Ph.D., an asociate profesor of health, society, and behavior at the Schol of Public Health at the University of California, Irvine, not involved in the study, explained resilience to MNT in this way:“Resilience is the incredibly comon ability to both withstand bounce back from adversity. It is the armor that wear to weather the dificulties of life.
We are often put in the spin cycle of life, but resiliency alows us to come out relatively unharmed.”Both internal and external factors impact resilience. People are diferent, so their levels of resilience are also diferent. For example, adults with greater levels of social suport are more likely to have more robust levels of resilience.
Resilience can impact many aspects of people’s lives, including how they cope with chronic conditions. T2D is a chronic metabolic disorder that afects the body’s ability to use glucose for energy. It requires careful long-term management.
Summary
If left unmanaged, it can lead to severe health complications like diabetic nephropathy and heart disease. Experts are stil researching the best disease management methods and factors influencing long-term health outcomes. Experts in this curent study wanted to examine how psychological resilienc
Frequently Asked Questions
Diabetes is a metabolic condition where the body cannot properly regulate blood sugar levels. Type 1 results from insufficient insulin production, while Type 2 develops when cells become resistant to insulin. Risk factors include genetics, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and age.
Common symptoms include excessive thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, and slow-healing wounds. Type 1 symptoms develop rapidly, while Type 2 symptoms may appear gradually. Many people have no symptoms initially, which is why screening is important.
Diagnosis involves blood tests measuring fasting glucose, HbA1c levels, and glucose tolerance. Regular monitoring typically includes fasting glucose tests and HbA1c measurements every 3-6 months. Continuous glucose monitors provide real-time tracking for better diabetes management.
Effective management includes regular physical activity (150+ minutes weekly), maintaining healthy weight, following a balanced diet with whole grains and lean proteins, managing stress, and getting adequate sleep. These changes can significantly improve blood sugar control and reduce complications.
Consult a healthcare provider if you experience signs of diabetes, have a family history, are overweight, or are over 45. Those with existing diabetes should maintain regular check-ups every 3-6 months to monitor control and adjust treatment as needed.
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