High Sugar Diet Effects on the Elderly

Diets high in sugar can have ill effects on health at any age. People who are elderly are even more susceptible, since their health may already be compromised by chronic illness or the affects of aging, such as arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis.

The rate of obesity in the United States has been rising steadily over the past years; the obesity rate in the elderly is no exception. Our consumption of sugar has increased from an average of 5 lbs. per person per year in the late 19th century, to its current level of between 26 and 135 lbs. per person per year.

Diabetes

Simple carbohydrates, the classification into which sugars fall, are digested quickly by the body. This fast digestion can result in high blood sugar levels, requiring the body to increase its production of insulin. Insulin is the hormone secreted by the pancreas, which aids the body in regulation of blood sugar levels.

Insulin triggers the body to produce fat, adding to the dilemma of high blood sugars and the risk they pose to long-term health. High blood sugar levels eventually lead to diabetes.

One in 4 Americans aged 60 and older are known to have diabetes, the Senior Journal relates. Another 57 million Americans, the elderly among them, have pre-diabetes, a condition that puts them at higher risk for developing the disease. Still another 25 percent of people have diabetes and have not been diagnosed. People with a diet high in sugar are more likely to develop diabetes than people who eat a diet balanced in all the nutrients.

Heart Disease

There is a greater prevalence of heart disease in those whose blood sugars are not under control.

As you age, it is likely you will develop arteriosclerosis (changes in the arteries that make them less elastic and pliable) and atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries). These two chronic conditions affect the heart and circulatory system by making the heart work harder to pump blood throughout the body, providing the oxygen and nutrients needed by all the cells to work properly.

A diet high in sugar can lead to the development of hypertension (high blood pressure), in tandem with the changes from arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis.

Healing

High-sugar diets can affect your ability to fight infection. The immune system requires a diet balanced in all the nutrients to function at its highest efficiency. As we age, our immune systems function less well. A diet high in sugar for the elderly may make them less resistant to infection and have slower healing times.

High sugar levels are associated with slow to non-existent healing, especially in the lower extremities. In extreme cases, amputation must be performed.

High sugar levels in the blood are also associated with decreased sensation, leaving the elderly more prone to injuries from burns and cuts because their pain sensation is diminished.

Other Effects

Sugar has no nutritive value other than the calories it adds. This means that elderly people who eat a diet high in sugar are at risk for malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies and more.

Vision problems occur more frequently in people, the elderly included, from minor vision changes to blindness.

Kidney problems can occur with unstable blood sugar levels; imagine your car's radiator trying to run efficiently on sugar water.

The brain and nervous system, like all other body systems, requires good nutrition to function properly. A diet high in sugar may lead to confusion, memory loss and slowed cognition (thinking).

Prevention/Solution

One of the keys to improving your diet or that of a loved one is finding a way to make mealtime an enjoyable experience. Eating alone can take the joy out of mealtime, making it an onerous task, instead of something pleasant, and can lead some to finding their enjoyment in eating high-sugar meals.

Inviting someone to a meal can make dining enjoyable for both of you. Perhaps you live in an area where there are other seniors; each of you could cook one of your favorite dishes and share portions with other seniors. This adds to the variety of meals you will eat, and you have the pleasure of cooking for someone else.

Learning to read food labels and making wise choices when grocery shopping is important for all age groups---the elderly are no exception.

If an elderly person is unable to unwilling to cook for himself, many communities have a Meals on Wheels program, whose purpose is to ensure older adults have access to good nutrition.