Aging and Diabetes: What Seniors Need to Know about Managing Their Health

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Aging and Diabetes: What Seniors Need to Know about Managing Their Health

With years of hard-earned experience under your belt, getting older can bring wisdom, confidence, and even a greater sense of freedom. However, aging is also accompanied by physical changes that we need to adapt to as the years go by. When you’re living with diabetes, new aches and pains, changes in memory, vision, or mobility, and shifts in your lifestyle can impact how you experience the condition. In turn, living with diabetes influences how the body ages. While managing aging and diabetes has challenges, prioritizing your health can help you create a solid foundation for living well throughout your senior years.

Learning more about the age and diabetes relationship can help you prepare to support your health as an older adult and make proactive choices today that positively impact your future well-being. It’s also important to be aware of the age-related factors that affect diabetes so that you can have productive discussions with your care team in the years to come and continue to look after yourself through this new phase of life.

Understanding the Age and Diabetes Relationship

Older people are more likely to live with diabetes. In Canada, 27 percent of adults over the age of 65 are living with diabetes, and 10.9 percent of adults 40–64 live with the condition, compared to just 1.7 percent of those aged 20–39. Between 90 and 95 percent of those living with diabetes have T2D, while 5 to 10 percent are living with type 1 diabetes (T1D).¹

The relationship between aging and diabetes is complex. There are many interconnected factors that can have an impact on diabetes management and overall health in older adults.

These are some of the factors that can influence your health when you’re living with diabetes in your senior years:

Changes in your physical abilities and lifestyle.
Diabetes complications and other health conditions.
Hypoglycemia unawareness.
Increased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Changes in Physical Abilities and Lifestyle

When we reach our later years, changes in our bones, muscles, brain, eyes, and ears can limit our mobility, dexterity, and cognition.^2,3 This can make it difficult to engage in diabetes management habits. Experiencing fatigue, injuries, or chronic pain can also make it harder to keep up with everyday routines and prevent you from getting enough physical activity.⁴ A reduction in how much you move your body may impact your blood sugar, or glucose management.⁵

Diabetes Complications and Other Health Conditions

Over time, experiencing high glucose levels can lead to complications like nerve damage that affects the lower legs and feet and issues with the eyes that may lead to vision loss. It can also contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases like heart attack and stroke, as well as problems with the kidneys.⁶ Diabetes complications or other age-related health conditions, such as arthritis, can take a toll on your health, which can make it more challenging to manage diabetes.

Hypoglycemia Unawareness

People who have been managing diabetes or used insulin therapy throughout their lives may experience hypoglycemia unawareness, or hypo unawareness.⁷ It happens when the body stops showing obvious symptoms of low blood sugar, such as shaking, sweating, feeling drowsy, or being unable to concentrate. Hypoglycemia symptoms like dizziness, confusion, and behaviour or vision changes might also be mistaken for signs of aging or neurological conditions like dementia, making it harder to identify and treat low glucose.⁸

Increased Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Older People

Type 2 diabetes and age are closely related. The risk of experiencing prediabetes or type 2 diabetes (T2D) goes up after age 35. Diabetes Canada recommends that everyone over 40 be tested for T2D every three years. Unlike type 1 diabetes, T2D can develop over a long period of time as the body becomes less responsive to insulin, which allows our cells to use glucose for fuel, and the pancreas stops producing enough insulin to support the body’s energy needs.

How to Navigate Managing Aging and Diabetes as You Grow Older

Because of the age and diabetes relationship, it’s smart to be proactive about diabetes management as you approach your later years. No matter how old you are, it’s never too late to take small, intentional steps toward supporting your health with new habits.

Managing aging and diabetes at the same time often requires you and your doctor to make adjustments to your diabetes treatment plan. It’s essential to speak with your care team before making any changes yourself. Your experience of old age and diabetes will be unique to you, and getting one-on-one guidance can help you better meet your personal needs—especially if you face specific challenges like diabetes complications or limited mobility.

Here are a few ways you can continue to take care of yourself while managing diabetes as an older adult:

Adjust your diet to support glucose management.
Find enjoyable activities that improve mobility, balance, and strength.
Lean on your diabetes care team and circle of support for help with your diabetes management.
Talk to your doctor about using a CGM system.

Adjust Your Diet to Support Glucose Management

Just like other systems in the body, our digestion also changes as we reach our older years. Some people may start to experience sensitivities to certain foods, acid reflux, or constipation.^12,13 You might want to talk to a diabetes dietitian about creating a diabetes diet plan that accommodates any changes in your needs and preferences. Continuing to prioritize a balanced diet can help you support good glucose management to get ahead of the challenges of aging and diabetes.

Diabetes Canada recommends following the diabetes plate method to portion your meals.¹⁴ Be sure to include plenty of vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains in your diet. Swap out soft drinks or juice for sugar-free options or water—which can be your drink of choice for staying hydrated. Try to reduce the amount of high-glycemic index (GI) foods that you eat as they can cause spikes in your glucose and limit how much alcohol you drink.^15,16

Explore Enjoyable Ways to Move Your Body

Older adults should aim to get about two and a half hours of moderate or vigorous physical activity each week.⁵ In addition to activities you’d usually think of as exercise, simply moving your body through everyday activities can make a big difference. Doing chores around the house, walking around the grocery store and carrying bags, going up and down the stairs, or working in the garden are moderate physical activities that can contribute to building strength. If you experience physical limitations, you can also try out seated exercises and other gentle flexibility and balance exercises that help you improve or maintain your mobility.

Making physical activity a social event can help you feel motivated to get moving. Look out for seniors walking groups or casual sports teams in your area. You can also organize regular walks with friends and loved ones or attend low-impact fitness classes like yoga or aquasize together.¹⁷

Seek Out Additional Support with Your Diabetes Management

When it comes to adjusting to old age and diabetes, know that you don’t have to do it alone. No matter how independent you are, asking for help is a smart strategy for managing diabetes as you get older. Getting regular support from loved ones, healthcare professionals, or members of a diabetes support group can increase your quality of life and empower you to prioritize diabetes management.

Leaning on others can help you overcome challenges that you might experience while managing aging and diabetes. For example, if you’re experiencing mobility or health issues that prevent you from driving, you may need to enlist a loved one to help you get to appointments or look into programs that offer transportation services for seniors. If you’re having a tough time remembering to take multiple medications every day, ask your pharmacist if they can organize them in daily dose packaging. Some pharmacies might also offer services like home delivery and reminder calls when it’s time to refill your prescriptions.

Use a Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) System

It’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about tools that can make glucose monitoring easier as you get older. While you may be used to using a blood glucose meter (BGM) to check your glucose levels, you might want to investigate other ways to make glucose monitoring a little easier when you’re navigating aging and diabetes.

Make Glucose Monitoring More Convenient with the Dexcom G7 CGM System

A continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system like the Dexcom G7 CGM System can take glucose readings automatically and send them directly to your connected smartphone, smartwatch, or handheld receiver, without the need for routine fingersticks.* This can reduce some of the mental load that comes with remembering to check your glucose and wondering if you’re going high or low.

Get Greater Insight into Your Glucose Levels and Take Action Faster

Dexcom G7 can tell you where your glucose is headed with a predictive alert that can let you know up to 20 minutes before you’re likely to experience low glucose under 3.1 mmol/L, in addition to a built-in alert that notifies you the moment you drop below 3.1 mmol/L. Even if you experience hypoglycemia unawareness, this empowers you to catch lows before they happen so you can take proactive action to prevent or treat them.

Find Peace of Mind Around Looking After Your Glucose

Dexcom G7 also connects with Dexcom Follow, an app that your caregivers and loved ones can use to view your glucose readings wherever they are on their own smart devices.^†‡ This can give you greater peace of mind around managing your glucose if you live alone, when you’re at work, or out running errands.¹⁹

Living Well While Managing Diabetes As You Get Older

Taking control of your glucose management and diabetes care as you age can help you feel your best as often as possible and continue to enjoy doing the things you love—no matter how old you get!

With your diabetes care team, you can build a personalized care plan that addresses the unique nuances of the age and diabetes relationship to help you get ahead of potential complications and meet your needs even if you do experience health challenges. Using tools like Dexcom G7 can make it easier to keep an eye on glucose so that you can focus on engaging in activities that bring you joy and boost your health rather than worrying about whether you’re in your ideal glucose range. When you have the tools and support you need to thrive, you can manage diabetes in your senior years with greater confidence.

Learn more about using Dexcom G7 for glucose management

* Fingersticks required for diabetes treatment decisions if symptoms or expectations do not match readings.
† Separate Dexcom Follow app and internet connection required. Internet connectivity required for data sharing.
‡ Followers must have compatible smart devices to use the Dexcom Follow app. To view a list of compatible devices, visit dexcom.com/compatibility.

1 Snapshot of Diabetes in Canada, 2023. Government of Canada. Updated January 30, 2024. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/snapshot-diabetes-canada-2023.html
2 Aging: What to expect. Mayo Clinic. November 1, 2024. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/aging/art-20046070
3 Life with diabetes: What happens as we age? Mayo Clinic. March 1, 2018. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/life-with-diabetes-what-happens-as-we-age
4 Meredith SJ, et al. Age Ageing. 2023;52(8):afad145.
5 Exercise & activity. Diabetes Canada. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://www.diabetes.ca/nutrition-fitness/exercise-activity
6 Diabetes. Mayo Clinic. March 27, 2024. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20371444
7 How Hypoglycemia Unawareness Affects People with Diabetes. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. April 5, 2023. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/professionals/diabetes-discoveries-practice/how-hypoglycemia-unawareness-affects-people-with-diabetes
8 Freeman J. Postgrad Med. 2019;131(4):241-250.
9 Type 2 diabetes. Mayo Clinic. February 27, 2025. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20351193
10 Assess your risk of developing diabetes. Diabetes Canada. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://www.diabetes.ca/type-2-risks/risk-factors-assessments
11 Kirkman MS, et al. Diabetes Care. 2012;35(12):2650-2664.
12 How to keep your digestive system healthy as you age. UCLA Health. September 30, 2024. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/how-keep-your-digestive-system-healthy-you-age
13 How Your Digestion Changes with Age. Cleveland Clinic. December 27, 2024. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2024/12/27/how-your-digestion-changes-with-age
14 Healthy eating: your path to better management. Diabetes Canada. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://www.diabetes.ca/nutrition-fitness/healthy-eating/healthy-eating-tips
15 Understanding the glycemic index (GI). Diabetes Canada. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://www.diabetes.ca/en-CA/resources/tools-resources/understanding-the-glycemic-index-(gi)
16 Alcohol and diabetes. Diabetes Québec. July 2022. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://www.diabete.qc.ca/en/diabetes/living-with-diabetes/consumption-of-alcohol-tobacco-or-drugs/alcohol-and-diabetes/
17 Physical activity tips for older adults (65 years and older). Government of Canada. November 7, 2019. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/physical-activity-tips-older-adults-65-years-older.html
18 Puhr S, et al. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2019;21(4):155-158.
19 Polonsky WH, et al. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2021;23(3):195-202.

How to Navigate Managing Aging and Diabetes as You Grow Older

Living Well While Managing Diabetes As You Get Older

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