If your aging family member has been diagnosed with diabetes, she may feel as if the rug has been pulled out from under her. Diabetes is a complicated condition and it can involve a delicate balancing act in order to bring everything under control. Here are some things your senior needs to know.
Her Doctor Should Have Recommendations for Her
Your senior’s doctor is a key part of her program for managing diabetes. Ideally, your senior’s doctor has some recommendations that help her to keep her glucose levels under control and that help her to feel her best. If she’s not sticking with that plan, talk to her about why she isn’t doing so. It’s possible that having some extra help from elderly care providers with some of the important aspects of managing diabetes is part of what would improve her success.
She Needs to Understand How to Test Her Glucose Levels
Testing blood sugar levels can feel awkward for people who have never had to do it before. Your elderly family member might feel squeamish about pricking her finger or she might have other concerns. Reading the test results can be confusing, too, especially if she’s not familiar with where those numbers should be. Elderly care providers can remind your senior to test and help her if she needs it.
She Needs to Know How Diet and Exercise Impact Glucose
Many people with diabetes are able to control it with changes to their movement practices and their diet. Your senior may find this to be intimidating, though, especially if her diet has consisted of a lot of convenience foods lately. Shifting to a whole foods diet again can be exhausting, so having elderly care providers take over the cooking can be a huge help.
She Needs to Know What Complications to Watch for Now and Later
Uncontrolled diabetes can bring with it a lot of complications. There are issues such as peripheral neuropathy, organ damage, and so much more. Your elderly family member needs to understand from her medical team what her risk factors are for these issues and what she needs to do in order to avoid them.
It's tough to manage diabetes properly, but with assistance and knowledge your senior can make great strides in getting her blood glucose levels back down to normal levels. Even if she does need to take medications, the changes that she makes will help her immensely.
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE IS CONSIDERING HIRING Elderly Care in San Jose, CA, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT HOME HELPERS TODAY (408) 317-4969.
