Metabolic Syndrome– What Every Senior Should Know
- Leslee Preece
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Key Takeaways
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cognitive decline in seniors.
A diagnosis is based on having at least three of five specific markers: abdominal circumference, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, high fasting blood sugar, and high blood pressure.
While age is a risk factor, metabolic syndrome is often manageable and even reversible through consistent lifestyle changes.
Many conditions associated with metabolic syndrome have no symptoms, making regular checkups and blood work essential for early detection.
What if there were five conditions that, when a person had at least three of them, would cause a significantly greater risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cognitive problems, and depression in the elderly? Would you want to know about it? Maybe take some tests to see if you, had it?
That risky situation is called metabolic syndrome, and it is alarmingly prevalent among senior citizens. In the past it has been called insulin resistance or syndrome x, but whatever the name we must be aware of it and take preventative action. Seniors have a lot more living to do and are such a needed group in this world–we need to take the very best care of ourselves.
Criteria for Metabolic Syndrome–must have at least three of the following conditions:
Excess abdominal circumference, meaning 40 inches around the waist or more in males; 35 inches or more around the waist in females
High triglycerides–greater than 150 mg/dl, found through fasting blood test
Low HDL cholesterol (the good kind) less than 40 mg/dl in males; less than 50 mg/dl in females, found through fasting blood test
Elevated blood sugar levels; fasting blood sugar greater than 100 mg/dl. 100-125 mg/dl = prediabetes; greater than 125mg/dl=diabetes
High blood pressure; greater than 130 systolic (top number), greater than 85 diastolic (bottom number)
All of these conditions are concerning on their own, but when three or more are combined, metabolic syndrome is in effect and disease risk is much greater.
Causes
At the most basic level, metabolic syndrome’s primary driver is Insulin resistance. That means our muscle, fat, and liver cells don’t respond to the hormone insulin. They then can’t efficiently take up blood sugar or store it. It’s important to note, though, that the causes and risk factors of both metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance are complex and interrelated. In fact, I read some really hairy studies until my brain shut down and my eyeballs wanted to bleed, and I still understood only a fraction of it. Nevertheless, I found a simplified list of things that contribute.
Contributing factors:
Obesity–a major player in insulin resistance, because body fat releases chemicals that dampen the effect of insulin.
Sarcopenic Obesity–muscle lessening and increased fat. The body mass index (BMI) does not distinguish between muscle and fat, so may indicate normal weight. Leads to frailty.
Lack of Physical activity–muscle uses and stores blood sugar; physical activity makes the body more responsive to insulin. Less muscle and activity equals less sugar storage and less reactivity to insulin.
Certain medications like corticosteroids, some psychiatric medications, and some blood pressure meds cause insulin resistance. My dad’s long-term use of steroids for asthma kicked him into insulin resistance and then early Type II diabetes.
Genes can contribute to insulin resistance, obesity, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.
Risk goes up with age. Why, why, why is it that when we finally start to get our act together, our physical stuff hits the fan? I wanted to use a different word.
Symptoms
Not all aspects of metabolic syndrome cause symptoms. So, our symptoms will vary based on which of the five conditions we have. For example, high blood pressure, high triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol usually don’t cause symptoms. This is why bloodwork, checkups, and screenings are so important! High blood sugar does have symptoms, so here’s what we need to watch for:
Symptoms of Hyperglycemia (High Blood Sugar):
Darkened skin in armpits and back and side of neck
Blurred vision
Increased thirst
Increased urination, especially at night
Fatigue
Complications of Metabolic Syndrome
This is a long, dark, dire, and all-too-familiar list of things we’d love to live without!
Also, I hate it.
Cardiovascular Disease
Type II diabetes
Atrial fibrillation
Thromboembolisms
Stroke
Organ damage and disease, especially in kidneys, pancreas, liver, gallbladder
Colon, breast, and prostate cancers
Narrowing of the aortic valve
Long-term Inflammation and Immune System problems
Erectile dysfunction–Now there’s some good motivation for lifestyle changes.
Pregnancy complications (Tell your younger people about this one, unless you’re experiencing a miraculous event of biblical proportions).
Trouble with thinking and memory–one of my dad’s tells with high blood sugar was, to put it bluntly, temporarily losing his marbles.
Diagnostic Tests to Do Regularly
Remember how we talked about taking ownership of our health, being our own best advocate, and not being stubborn? Along with regular checkups, for metabolic syndrome we specifically need these:
Lipid panel–blood test
Basic Metabolic Panel–blood test
Fasting Glucose blood test
Blood Pressure test
Body Composition test
Treatment for Metabolic Syndrome
If faced with this condition, there are many things we can do to treat and manage it, hopefully in time to avoid complications.
Lifestyle changes–These are also Preventative Measures:
Healthy weight–just losing 7% of our body weight reduces the onset of Type II diabetes by 58%. That’s really promising.
Regular exercise–anything that gets our hearts pumping and muscles growing.
Nutritious diet
Good sleep
No smoking
Manage stress
All of these things together may seem overwhelming in the thick of a worrying diagnosis, but any little changes help. Small steps and consistency are key.
Medications Include:
Cholesterol meds
Blood pressure meds
Oral diabetes meds
Bariatric surgery
Sleep treatments i,e. Cpap
Talk Therapy
Can Metabolic Syndrome Be Reversed?
Yes, it’s possible to reverse metabolic syndrome. Lifestyle changes can have a tremendous positive impact on our health. Medications can help as well. I have genetic post-menopausal high total cholesterol that doesn’t budge no matter how healthful my day to day is. But my lifestyle keeps my good cholesterol high and my arteries plaque-free (I know this due to tests my doc ordered). Everyone has different circumstances to consider, so it is important to have a trusted healthcare provider who will work with us to formulate the best individual plan for us.
Last Thoughts (For Now)
My beloved ninety-five-year-old friend just interrupted this writing to bring me a loaf of homemade bread, which she baked at 5am. She drove over here in her little sporty car and walked faster than I currently can up to the door. She does not have metabolic syndrome. Why? Continuous physical activity (walking, dancing, vigorous gardening, etc.), nutritious diet (she brought me peas from her big garden the other day), active social life (dancing group, community choir, lunch bunch ladies), and probably great genes. She lives life fully, and I’ve told her many times that she is my role model and hero.
Not all of us have great genes. Not all of us have lived healthfully enough to have prevented metabolic syndrome and other ills. But we can all start doing little things right now to change our health span outcomes. Please do it, because we’re worth it.
RESOURCES:
MEDICAL DISCLAIMER:
The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. While I share personal experiences and information I have found, I am not a healthcare professional. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, diet, or lifestyle change. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog. Reliance on any information provided here is solely at your own risk.
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