In the last 20 years, the number of people with diabetes has more than doubled as the American population has aged and become more overweight. Left unchecked, diabetes can cause serious complications, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, hearing loss, nerve damage, and amputations.

Fortunately, you can manage your diabetes and live a long and healthy life by taking care of yourself each day. Monitoring your blood glucose level, eating a healthy diet, exercising, and taking your medications are all important steps to feeling better in the short term and preventing complications in the long term.

5 ways senior living communities help manage diabetes.

Senior living communities are designed to support a healthy lifestyle. And for people with diabetes, they’re just what the doctor ordered. Here are five ways a senior living community can help you or someone you love with diabetes:

Personalized diabetes management

At Holly Hall, for example, we offer to create a personalized wellness plan for each resident. A team of health professionals, a nutritionist, and a wellness coach can help residents regulate their diet, get daily exercise, check blood sugar levels, and manage medications. We can also assist residents to access regular eye exams, skin assessments, and podiatrist visits to help prevent complications.

Nutrition management

Senior living communities strive to provide healthy, delicious meals residents enjoy. At Holly Hall, a dietitian works with our chef to plan tasty, nutritious meal options, including specialized menus that cater to residents with diabetes. Everything is homemade and includes foods high in nutritional value and low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium.

Fitness programs

Exercise, along with a healthy diet, helps people with diabetes maintain a healthy weight. In addition, regular physical activity helps control blood sugar levels — not to mention lowering your risk for heart disease and stroke.

Most senior living communities offer a fitness center where residents can take a variety of group fitness classes or just work out on their own. Many senior living communities also offer an indoor pool where residents can swim, do water aerobics, and play water volleyball. 

At a senior living community like Holly Hall, residents benefit from a wide range of fitness classes tailored to their needs, including Zumba, yoga, strength training, and balance training. Fitness instructors are always available to provide fitness evaluations, prescribe individual exercise programs, and ensure you’re performing exercises safely and effectively. 

Health education

Senior living residents can take advantage of a number of health education classes, lectures, and activities. Healthcare professionals are available to explain how to monitor the disease and what to do when blood glucose levels aren’t where they should be.

Staff members educate residents on nutritional topics, help them communicate with their physicians, and promote greater independence and quality of life. Most senior living communities also offer health and wellness lectures, including those that address daily diabetes-management issues.

Access to care

Senior living communities come in all shapes and sizes and offer a variety of living options, such as independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Some may have a dedicated health center on-site that provides skilled nursing and rehabilitation. At Holly Hall, we offer a full range of living options, including skilled nursing at our top-rated health center. It gives residents added peace of mind, knowing they can get the care they may need right on campus from people they know and trust.

To learn how we can make living well with diabetes easier, get in touch. We’re here to help you or someone you love live healthier and happier.