Can malnutrition in the elderly cause hypotension and hypoglycemia?
Disease description:
My grandmother rarely eats vegetables over a long period. When her blood pressure was measured, she was found to have hypotension. Can prolonged lack of vegetable intake lead to malnutrition in elderly people, causing low blood pressure and low blood sugar during physical examinations?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Li Man
Malnourished elderly individuals commonly experience hypotension and hypoglycemia. If older adults blindly diet, lose weight, or have an improper nutritional intake, it may lead to indigestion and slowed metabolism, impairing the absorption of nutrients and consequently causing hypotension and unbalanced dietary nutrition. In daily life, consuming insufficient fresh vegetables and fruits fails to meet the body's required carbohydrate intake and can also result in hypoglycemia.
