High Sugar Consumption Causes Multiple Health Risks for Seniors

At Interim HealthCare, one of the issues family members tell us they are concerned about with senior family members living alone is whether they are getting the proper nutrition. Eating well is one key to staying healthy. One of the problems that frequently plagues senior citizens is the abundance of sugar in their diets. It can lead to a number of health problems, including diabetes, tooth and gum problems, and being overweight. Interim HealthCare has home caregivers that can assist with proper dietary habits.

When seniors are living alone and have no one to help them with cooking, grocery shopping and food choices, they often resort to the ease of eating out frequently, consuming heat-and-eat prepared foods or just eating what tastes good. All of these practices result in choosing items generally high in sugar. Foods high in processed sugar, such as candy, cookies, soda and white flour, should be limited or avoided altogether. Convenience foods are usually high in sugar as a preservative and also to make them taste good. They should be limited when possible. This includes items like peanut butter, breakfast cereal, energy bars and bread.

Teeth
When sugary foods are eaten, teeth should be brushed soon after to reduce the risks of tooth decay. The combination of saliva, sugar and bacteria in the mouth lead to cavities. Juice, starchy foods and dried fruits have the same effect as many high-sugar foods. Many seniors lose their teeth with age, often caused by years of neglect of teeth and gums. Taking care of them by brushing and flossing is one key to keeping your teeth and avoiding wearing dentures. This may be difficult for those that have a hard time gripping a toothbrush or getting to the sink and standing on their own while brushing.

Weight
Foods high in sugar are usually high in calories. High calorie content is difficult for inactive seniors to burn off. Exercising regularly is important, but this can be difficult, especially for those with mobility issues. Eating a sensible diet means limiting foods high in sugar. This can be done by reading the amount of calories on food labels. It is best for seniors to ask their doctor or medical care provider for a recommended number of calories to consume each day. This will make it easier to set limits and goals to eat a proper diet.

Diabetes
Diabetes is the result of the body not being able to properly process sugar. If left untreated, diabetes can cause a variety of other health problems, such as blindness, heart attack, stroke or increase of infections. Symptoms of diabetes may include excessive thirst, frequent urination, overeating, unexplained weight loss, dizziness, blurry vision or poor wound healing. A low-sugar diet, combined with proper diet, frequent exercise or activity and sometimes medication can help reduce or control the effects of diabetes.

Interim HealthCare has non medical home care services to help with grocery shopping and meal preparation. Our senior home health care services can help with hygiene and nutrition.