22 Signs of Diabetes in Older Adults

Diabetes is a serious condition that affects people from childhood on up. I have personal knowledge about this because my husband was diagnosed and I also had a diabetic cat. 

I noticed that my former cat was drinking excessively and his litter box looked like a river ran through it. I took him to the vet, and the vet performed some tests and found out he had diabetes. From there, we learned how to give him insulin and what to watch for in his behavior that would show if his blood glucose was too low or too high. We had some scares with him being hypoglycemic but most of the time we had it under control.

My husband was a big surprise. He never complained of any issues, and I didn’t notice any changes in him or his habits before he received the diagnosis. That was almost a year ago, and he has made great strides since. Unlike our cat, he does not need insulin and is only on medication. 

I will not lie. At the beginning of both these scenarios, it was stressful. I obsessed about both of them and felt overwhelmed all at the same time. However, with time and education, things have become easier.

I know this disease well. We see lots of information about what to look for in children and young adults, but what about older adults? Well, here are some signs to watch out for.

1. Increased Thirst/Urination

When there is an excess of glucose buildup in your body, it causes your kidneys to overwork. As your kidneys work to flush out this excess glucose, they pass it into your urine, which also draws fluids from your body. In doing this, you become more thirsty and urinate more from drinking so much.

2. Excessive Fatigue

Diabetes will make you feel more sluggish or tired because your body has trouble converting glucose into energy. Diabetes-related dehydration can also be a cause of fatigue.

3. Wounds That Heal More Slowly

It is common for wounds to heal more slowly when you have diabetes. It can also cause sores on the feet and skin infections that don’t clear up as fast as they should. All of this is because high glucose hinders the body’s natural healing process. If you are a female with diabetes, you may experience more bladder infections and vaginal yeast infections.

4. Dizziness and/or Fainting

Some adults with diabetes have hypoglycemia, which is when blood glucose drops below 70 mg. Having low blood sugar can cause dizziness, fainting, weakness, confusion, and shakiness.

5. Headaches

Our brains require constant delivery of glucose to work properly. When we have dips and spikes of glucose in our blood, it can cause headaches.

6. Tingling Sensations in Hands and Feet

Diabetes causes nerve pain, which is called neuropathy. This can cause numbness, tingling, weakness, and pain in the hands and feet. 

7. Gum Problems

Gum problems can be a warning sign of diabetes. Red, swollen, and painful gums, often associated with gingivitis, could also signal uncontrolled diabetes. Here’s why: Diabetes weakens the immune system, making it harder for your body to fight off infections in the gums, including gingivitis. Some additional signs to watch for are loose teeth, mouth sores, or puss-filled pocekets in the gums (abscesses).

8. Increased Appetite

Increased appetite is another symptom of diabetes in older adults. This is called polyphagia. It occurs because the disease prevents glucose from getting to your cells, therefore causing you to have hunger pangs, even after an enormous meal. This can lead to a cycle of eating more, which ups your glucose level, which in turn increases sugar cravings.

9. Dry Mouth

Another sign of having diabetes in older adults is dry mouth. Signs of this include dry, cracked lips, a rough feeling tongue, and a rough feeling tongue because your mouth doesn’t make enough saliva. 

10. Blurry Vision

When your glucose is high, it can draw fluid out of the lenses of the eyes, which makes it difficult to focus. Because this symptom can cause new blood vessels to be created behind your retina, it can cause partial or complete vision loss. 

11. Weight Loss

If you have been losing weight with no apparent specific reason, diabetes may be a plausible reason.

12. Confusion

Diabetes can cause confusion because having high glucose over time damages blood vessels that carry oxygen to the brain.

13. Depression

Depression for several reasons. One, managing it can be stressful, which can cause depression. Two, it can cause health issues that may make symptoms of depression worse. Three, diabetes can make it hard to do things and think clearly.

14. Sexual Dysfunction

Sometimes men with diabetes will have issues with sexual dysfunction.

15. Nausea and Constipation

High blood glucose can cause both nausea and constipation because of slowing the digestive process.

16. Mood Swings

Diabetes can cause mood swings because of fatigue and other changes in the body.

17. Dark Patches of Skin

Diabetes can cause dark patches of skin in the creases of the neck, armpits, or groin. These patches get dark and leathery and resemble soot. Only it doesn’t wash off. This is a sign of insulin resistance, which is an early sign of diabetes.

18. An Overabundance of Facial Hair or Acne

Females can develop thick, coarse hair on their faces because of insulin resistance. This is because insulin prompts the body to make the male hormones that increase hair growth. Those same hormones can cause acne as well.

19. Skin Tags

Skin tags are also another sign of early diabetes. They develop on the neck, eyelids, armpits, and groin. Most of the time, they are harmless, but they can be a sign of diabetes.

20. Hearing Problems

Although most people think of hearing loss as common in older adults, it can also be a sign of diabetes. In fact, an older person with diabetes is twice as likely to have hearing loss.

21. Memory Problems

Because diabetes affects the brain by depositing plaques in the brain, which diminishes impulse transmission which can cause problems with memory and cognitive function. 

22. Joint Problems

Diabetes worsens the symptoms of arthritis and joint issues because of nerve damage. Neuropathy symptoms can be extra painful in older people with diabetes.

Diabetes in Older Adults

Our older loved ones are some of the most precious people in our lives. If you have an older relative or friend who is having any of these symptoms, offer to go with them to the doctor to be tested. It can be scary for older people when they think about developing a new or another health issue. They can get overwhelmed by just the thought and put it off. If they find out they have diabetes, offer to help them figure things out. Offer your help in attending their diabetes education classes, so you can understand the steps and be prepared for any potential emergencies. Check-in with them daily to make sure they have checked their glucose and have taken their meds on time. If you need to, help them sort and organize their meds in a pill box so they know they have forgotten nothing. With a little help, love, and compassion, you can set up your loved one for success in navigating this new normal in their life.