\u200bDiabetes is a disease that impacts the body\u2019s ability to properly convert blood sugar into the energy the body needs. It can occur because the pancreas is unable to make enough insulin to handle the amount of blood sugar or because the body cannot effectively use insulin. When there is too much sugar in the blood, it can damage blood vessels and tissues, which can lead to dangerous complications. Knowing whether your elderly parent is at risk for diabetes can help you to reduce the risks and watch for signs of the disease.<\/p>\n
What Are the Risk Factors?<\/strong><\/p>\n There are many things that can increase your parent\u2019s risk for developing diabetes. Unfortunately, one of them is age. The older a person gets, the greater the chance of getting diabetes. Experts suggest that one of the reasons that age sometimes leads to diabetes is that seniors tend to slow down and don\u2019t get as much exercise. The lack of exercise leads to weight gain and the loss of muscle tissue. Other risk factors for diabetes include:<\/p>\n