Diabetes is a condition where there is too much glucose (sugar) in the blood because the body does not produce enough insulin to break the glucose down. Insulin is a hormone that comes from a gland known as the "pancreas'' below the stomach and it controls the way glucose enters the cells.

Diabetes is increasingly common in Singapore and is even more so among the elderly. If any member in the family suffers from diabetes, one is also at a higher risk of contracting it. Being overweight also carries with it three times higher risk. As diabetes is a lifelong disease and cannot be cured, one must learn to recognise it early and start treatment.

What Are The Warning Signs

• Always thirsty
• Pass urine often
• Weight loss
• Always feeling tired
• Slow wound healing
• Ants around urine traces

Complications

• High blood pressure
  
• Kidney failure
  
• Damaged nerves
  
• Heart attack
  
• Stroke
  
• Blindness
  
• Infection and gangrene of limbs
  
• Coma

Relating to others and staying connected through games
are ways for the elderly to engage in life.

What is High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure or hypertension is a condition where left untreated, can lead to damaged blood vessels, causing stroke and heart attack. Also known as the silent killer, high blood pressure is known to cause other complications including blindness and kidney failure. For one to be diagnosed as having high blood pressure, blood pressure must exceed the normal range, around 120 for Systolic reading and 80 for Diastolic reading.

Risk Factors

• Smoking
  
• Obesity
  
• Lack of exercise
  
• High fat and high salt diet
  
• Stress

What is a Stroke?

• A stroke occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is cut off
  
• The part of the body controlled by the affected part of the brain suffers a temporary or permanent disability
  
• The warning signs of a stroke are temporary weakness or numbness occurring suddenly or temporary difficulty in speaking or slurring of speech

Effects of a stroke

• Weakness or paralysis, usually on one side of the body, often with loss of feeling
  
• Difficulty in speaking or understanding
  
• Difficulty in swallowing
  
• Loss of concentration and memory
  
• Incontinence of urine and bowels
  
• Behavioural changes