Phoenix Senior Living helps seniors remain active and healthy in their own homes.

Hypoglycemia is a condition that many older adults face because it can be associated to diabetes and other conditions that come with aging. It’s low blood sugar, and it’s essential that every senior and every caregiver ensures that they understand the condition and know when to seek treatment.

• What signifies low blood sugar – there is a range for normal blood sugar which is measured by milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood). A normal range is between 60 and 120 mg/dl. Hypoglycemia is usually below 45 mg/dl

• What causes blood sugar issues – low blood sugar like hypoglycemia is caused when hormones like insulin and glucagon fail to regulate properly

• Recognizing hypoglycemia – symptoms can be hard to recognize because they can be associated to lifestyle conditions and other health problems like anxiety and stress

• Link to diabetes – hypoglycemia is a complication of diabetes because medications are designed to lower blood pressure. The problem is that sometimes blood pressure can dip too low when too much insulin has been taken, they exercise too much, don’t eat enough or drink too much alcohol. Any combination of these behaviors can cause hypoglycemia

• Managing hypoglycemia with diabetes – a health care provider can find seniors with the best guidelines with regards to their target blood sugar levels. Testing levels or becoming cognoscente of signs that blood sugar is dropping are simple ways to keep it under control

Via: About.com

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Sodium intake can play a huge role in the risks and development of high blood pressure. Senior Living Phoenix strongly encourages seniors to monitor their daily sodium intake, especially if they have already been diagnosed with high blood pressure. Unfortunately, this is not an easy task. The list below provides some tips and facts about sodium and how to reduce your daily sodium intake.

1. The government passed regulation to label products differently. Anything with more than 480 mg will be labeled as high in sodium.

2. When you reduce sodium intake, you will notice foods taste differently. Do not give up. In a short time, your taste buds will adjust!

3. Do not cut out sodium completely. The body does require some intake. For adults, the minimum amount is 200-500mg/day. Those with high blood pressure should not exceed 1500mg/day.

4. Lower intake by reading food labels and being aware of sodium contents, make records of daily sodium intake, change some eating habits and find low-sodium alternatives to what you normally eat.

5. When dining out, eat from the salad bar and avoid soups and sauces. Also ask for a low-sodium menu.

6. Read labels. Manufacturers are required to tell you how much sodium is in a product based on a serving size. Look at the serving size and then at how much sodium is in each size.

7. Keep in mind that many of your medications may contain sodium. Check with your doctor for tips on how to lower sodium intake. Also remember that tap water contains sodium as well, so try to drink bottled or filtered water.

Source: hearthealthyonline.com

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Greater Phoenix Senior Living & Central Phoenix Senior Living provides home care for elders and seniors . Call us! 623-583-5868, 480-991-3959 or 602-265-8228