During his last doctor's visit, your dad learned he is pre-diabetic. His doctor said it's important that he stop eating sugary treats and drinking soda. He also needs to lose weight. Your dad is going to struggle to do this. How can you help him lose weight and keep it off?
Exercise With Him
Your dad needs to exercise. Walking is one way to do this. If he walks around his block each day, boost that to two walks a day. The extra steps will help. If you have time, drive him to a local hiking trail and join him on a hike. You can choose the right difficulty for his needs.
Check Medication Side Effects
Check the side effects of any medications he takes. If they cause dizziness or drowsiness, it may interfere with his ability to get up and be active.
Talk to his doctor to discuss ways to get him active when the medication makes it challenging to get up and move around. He may be able to switch to a different medication.
Make Small Dietary Changes
Start by having your dad make small changes. If he tries a drastic shift to a new diet, he's unlikely to keep going as he'll get frustrated or bored. Come up with daily and weekly food goals. His first week, he could start by cutting back his daily soda intake in half.
Offer More Meals Per Day
In between heavy meals, blood sugar levels spike and plummet. If you switch your dad from three large daily meals to multiple smaller ones, it may be easier for him to manage.
Look up tapas for inspiration. Every two or three hours give your dad a small plate of something he'll enjoy. Ideas include vegetable sticks with hummus, yogurt parfaits, and tuna tossed with olive oil and garlic and served in tomato bowls. This keeps the blood sugar levels steady throughout the day.
Serve Healthier Versions of Favorite Meals
If your dad's favorite meal is a burger and fries, try a turkey burger and baked fries. It's not a drastic change, but it's a start.
If he likes his burger topped with ketchup, look for ketchup that doesn't add sugar or corn syrup. You'll find options that sweeten with artificial sweeteners instead. Add a double layer of vegetables to his burger to get a double-dose of lettuce, onion, tomatoes, etc.
Make Sure He Has a Solid Support Team
Support your dad by having caregivers cooking meals for him. Caregivers also become his support system by joining him on walks and encouraging him to be more active around the home. He can also have caregivers drive him to follow-up appointments with his doctor and any dietitians his doctor recommends.
If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring caregivers in Cupertino, CA, please contact the caring staff at Home Helpers today (408) 317-4969.
