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The Sweet Truth: Managing Diabetes in Your Golden Years

Updated: 2 days ago

Guest blog by Inaya Karmali, Undergraduate Student University of Toronto


Diabetes is a chronic condition where your body is unable to deal properly with the sugar in your blood.¹ According to Stats Canada more than 25% of people over the age of 65 have diabetes and more may not even know it.¹⁰ While anyone can develop diabetes, managing it as you age is crucial. Older adults tend to have more severe diabetes-related complications, meaning there is an increased risk of cardiovascular disease,  kidney disease, and visual impairment.²


What is Diabetes?

Insulin¹² is a hormone that usually helps the body transfer glucose from the blood into cells to create energy. In diabetes, the body either produces insufficient insulin or does not respond to it, resulting in high blood sugar levels. Over time, this can lead to serious health complications. 


The Different Types of Diabetes

There are different types of diabetes but  all result in the body's inability to manage blood sugar. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when the body is unable to produce insulin, while type 2 diabetes means that the body is unable to adequately use that insulin.³ A lesser-known type is gestational diabetes, which develops during pregnancy and typically goes away postpartum.


Why The Rates of Diabetes Are Rising

It appears that recently, more so than ever, diabetes is getting more and more attention in the media. There has been a lot of research connecting diabetes rates to sugar  consumption⁴ and obesity rates.⁵ In addition, the popularity of the sedentary lifestyle 

lived by many may also be contributing to the high diabetes rates.⁶


Some Signs and Symptoms

Some signs and symptoms of diabetes include, but are not limited to, increased thirst and urination, feeling very tired, and the presence of numb or tingly extremities.⁷ If you believe you may have diabetes, it is vital that you discuss this with a medical professional who is qualified to assess your situation and provide care if necessary.


Lifestyle Changes That Can Help

Although the risk of diabetes increases with family history and specific ethnic backgrounds,⁸ many factors are within your control when it comes to risk prevention and healthy living. Within lifestyle management, the most important factors include incorporating regular physical activity into your schedule and being aware of how much sugar you are consuming.⁸

New Research and Hope for The Future

Despite the fact that diabetes has no cure, recent discoveries about it may someday contribute to making treatment easier and more accessible. For example, the world’s first stem cell therapy for diabetes has been shown to aid an individual with type 1 diabetes by creating new insulin-producing cells and placing them inside the patient's body.⁹ This operation took less than 30 minutes and showed promising results. 

The widespread use of a procedure like this could revolutionize care for individuals with diabetes.


Managing your health and paying for your health care in retirement requires a plan. Taking the right steps can ensure a more peaceful and stress-free future. We talk about health care in our retirement seminars. You can meet Dave, Faisal, and the rest of our team at our upcoming seminar. Register at https://morethanmoneyradio.com/seminar-registration/


The author is not a medical professional. The above content was accumulated through various sources and is intended for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as medical recommendations. Readers should consult a physician or their family doctor for professional health and medical advice.

David Popowich and Faisal Karmali are Investment Advisors with CIBC Wood Gundy in Calgary.

The views of David Popowich, Faisal Karmali, and guest author and referenced material do not necessarily reflect those of CIBC World Markets Inc.

This information, including any opinion, is based on various sources believed to be reliable, but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed and is subject to change.

CIBC Private Wealth consists of services provided by CIBC and certain of its subsidiaries, including CIBC Wood Gundy, a division of CIBC World Markets Inc.


References:


1. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. What is diabetes? [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; [cited 2025 Jun 1]. Available from: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes


2. University of Chicago Medicine. Diabetes in older adults. [Internet]. Chicago (IL): University of Chicago Medicine; [cited 2025 Jun 1]. Available from:


3. Mayo Clinic. Diabetes symptoms and causes. [Internet]. Rochester (MN): Mayo Clinic; [cited 2025 Jun 1]. Available from:


4. Rojas-Camayo J, Gonzalez-Correa CH, et al. Diabetes and diabetes-related complications: from molecular mechanisms to future therapies. PMC. [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2025 Jun 1]. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10384374/


5. Cusi K. Role of insulin resistance in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes. PMC. [Internet]. 2009 [cited 2025 Jun 1]. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2769839/

6. Nielsen L, Tschada S, et al. Epidemiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Care. 2012;35(3):1-15. doi:10.1007/s00125-012-2677-z. Available from:

7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Signs and symptoms of diabetes. [Internet]. 

Atlanta (GA): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; [cited 2025 Jun 1]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/signs-symptoms/index.html

8. National Library of Medicine. Type 2 diabetes. [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): MedlinePlus; 


9. Moffat D, Pompili A, et al. Stem cell therapy in type 1 diabetes. Stem Cell Res. 2024;39:1-9. doi:10.1186/s13287-024-04036-0. Available from: https://stemcellres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13287-024-04036-0




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