When an aging loved one receives a diabetes diagnosis, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed. After all, you want the best for your parent, yet he or she may not be fully ready to accept your help. You can use the following strategies to keep your loved one’s blood sugar under control while he or she still maintains independence.
Learn Everything You Can about the Condition
A new health diagnosis is bound to raise questions. While diabetes used to be difficult to manage in the past, many diabetic people now live long and healthy lives with the help of modern medicine and some lifestyle changes. Start by finding good sources of information about diabetes, such as visiting websites suggested by your loved one’s doctor and talking to other caregivers. As you learn more about diabetes in general, you’ll have a better idea of how to help your parent.
If your senior loved one needs help managing an illness or assistance with daily tasks, make sure you choose a top-rated provider of at-home care. Align Home Care is here to help your loved one live a happier and healthier life in the golden years. From the mentally stimulating activities in our Cognitive Therapeutics Method to our friendly Care Managers who are available to answer your questions 24 hours a day, we offer a wide array of high-quality at-home care services.
Coordinate Meals with a Medication & Exercise Schedule
For people who are newly diagnosed with diabetes, keeping blood sugar levels under control while also eating healthy meals and exercising can be a challenge. Your loved one will need to monitor his or her blood sugar levels and do glucose checks more often during the initial phase of diabetes. Once your parent figures out the ideal medication and exercise schedule, help him or her stay on track.
Talk to a Physician about Weight Management
Seniors who develop diabetes later in life may need to lose extra weight. However, extreme workouts or skipping meals could cause your loved one’s blood sugar levels to spiral out of control. Talk to a physician about healthy ways to lose excess weight slowly. For instance, your parent may need to break exercise routines up into smaller workout sessions done several times a day to avoid having blood sugar levels go too low.
Provide Support with Hygiene & Wound Care
Diabetes affects blood flow to the extremities, which places seniors at risk for infections that can arise from small injuries. For instance, accidentally clipping the skin when trimming the toenails could lead to a serious infection. If your loved one already has difficulty maintaining his or her personal hygiene, seek professional assistance with these parts of your parent’s daily routine. Simply having an extra set of eyes to check for minor feet and hand injuries can help your loved one catch diabetes-related issues before they get worse.
If your elderly loved one is living with a serious medical condition and needs help managing the tasks of daily living, reach out to Align Home Care, a Portland elder care agency you can trust. Our caregivers are available 24/7, there are no hidden fees in our contracts, and we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our in-home care services.
Arrange for Transportation to Medical Appointments & the Pharmacy
Diabetes care often involves multiple types of medical supplies, such as test strips and medications. Arrange for the supplies to be delivered straight to your loved one’s home when possible. Your parent may also need transportation to and from the doctor’s office for checkups, so make sure he or she always has a safe way to get to appointments.
Older adults with serious health issues can benefit from professional in-home care. If your senior loved one needs hourly or live-in care, Portland Align Home Care can help. Our caregivers can assist with exercise and mobility, prepare nutritious meals, provide timely medication reminders, and help with a wide array of other important daily tasks. To create a customized care plan for your loved one, call us at (207) 835-3490 today.