Education, exercise crucial to coping with diabetes

My grandfather was diabetic. I remember him needing insulin injections every day. Being a child and not fond of needles, I was quietly horrified at the very thought of this daily regimen. He managed well and endured the disease bravely, as he did everything else in his life.

He also made, and occasionally consumed, the world’s best chocolate no-bake cookies. He took his diabetes seriously, but also lived his life as he chose.

Paul Dowe Sr., 82, a lover of chocolate milkshakes, would agree with my grandfather’s philosophy. Diagnosed with Type 1 – insulin-dependent – diabetes at age 10, Dowe has spent a lifetime with this disease, paying attention to it but not giving in. He has lived life to the fullest.

“I went to the hospital and they started shoving insulin to me,” he said of his introduction to diabetes. “But I still played ball and hockey and everything else. They thought I’d die by the time I was 30. My doctor says, ‘You’re a miracle,’ but I don’t know about that.”

So, what’s his secret?

“Exercise,” he said with the confidence of an expert. “You’ve got to burn that sugar. I never sat still when I was younger. Being active and [getting] exercise is so important. But it’s hard when you get older, because you don’t feel like exercising. It’s tough on these old folks.”

While that’s true for some seniors, a small amount of activity can make quite a difference in managing diabetes, said Carole Webber, director of the Diabetes and Nutrition Center and director of education at St. Joseph Healthcare.

“Our approach to diabetes, at any age, is to prevent complications from the disease and certainly exercise is a biggie, especially for older adults who lose muscle mass and need to keep that tone,” Webber said. “Start out slowly by doing something, like walking or swimming, a little bit each week. Then increase the activity each week, if tolerated. It’s like magic. A little can go a long way.”

Webber acknowledges that some seniors shun exercise because they have a fear of falling, which can be brought on by certain medications that cause dizziness. Check with your doctor about alternative, but equally effective, drugs if this is a problem for you – and always check before starting an exercise program.

Other factors that help manage diabetes are diet and being knowledgeable about your “numbers.”

Webber said that cholesterol and blood pressure readings are as important as blood glucose readings, given the increased risk for cardiovascular disease that comes with diabetes, especially in women.

“We are focusing more on these numbers than in the past,” she said. “Meal planning and portion control are important, also. Reduce starch intake and watch the carbohydrates.”

Webber emphasized the importance of taking diabetes education classes.

“The classes help people understand why the dietitian’s advice is so important,” she said. “We can tell you what works best. But you can’t make a choice if you don’t have the knowledge of how best to manage diabetes.” And lose weight, if necessary, she said, but don’t be discouraged or overwhelmed by the prospect. Even a loss of 10 pounds can make a difference in Type 2 insulin-resistant diabetes.

“When someone is diagnosed with diabetes, the normal reaction is to go into denial,” said Webber. The education classes and support groups available through the hospital can alleviate this denial and encourage people to work at managing their diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes can turn into Type 1 if the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin, she said. While being diligent about disease management is not a guarantee the switch won’t happen, it certainly helps. All this effort may not be easy, but it is worth it in the long run.

“You’ve got to make up your mind what you’re going to do for yourself, and do it right,” said Dowe. “Not that I always do – I had carrot cake the other night. But I do the best I can. No one can do this for you. Just go day by day. And I think attitude helps. Stay positive.”

A diabetes support group is held at 1 p.m. the first Thursday of the month at the Willette Center, 900 Broadway, Bangor.

Carol Higgins is director of communications at Eastern Agency on Aging. For information on EAA, call 941-2865 or log on www.eaaa.org.