November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and if your senior parent has just been diagnosed with diabetes, you probably have a lot of questions. Diabetes is a very common health condition among seniors. Approximately 14 million seniors are living with diabetes. Diabetes in seniors can be managed, although your senior loved one may need help getting their blood sugar under control. Especially during the first few months after being diagnosed your senior parent may need help checking their blood sugar and giving themselves injections. Here are a few other things you should know about seniors and diabetes:
Talk To Your Senior Loved One’s Doctor
Your senior parent’s doctor is the best source of information right now because they are familiar with your loved one’s unique situation. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Write down everything that the doctor says when you take your loved one to appointments, or ask the doctor if you can record the session so that you will be able to refer to the information later.
Get As Much Information As You Can
If you have never had any experience with diabetes before you should try to learn as much as you can about the disease. There are lots of websites and books that you can consult to learn more about how diabetes impacts seniors and what seniors can do to try and manage their diabetes. There are support groups and advocacy groups also that can be a big help when you are trying to navigate the confusing world of diabetes. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help. It’s out there.
Get Some Help
You are learning just like your senior loved one is learning, so it can be helpful to rely on someone that knows all about seniors and diabetes. A companion care at home provider can be a fantastic resource for both you and your senior loved one during this time. A companion care at home provider who has experience helping seniors with diabetes can teach you and your senior loved one how to spot the symptoms of low blood sugar, how to prepare an insulin injection, and how to safely store insulin and dispose of syringes.
Lifestyle Changes Are Necessary
Your senior loved one’s lifestyle is going to have to change, and that might mean your lifestyle has to change also. You can help your senior loved one learn to live with diabetes by helping them make healthy changes that include exercising daily and eating a healthier diet that is full of vegetables and fruits and not carbs, sugar, and fat.
Keep Learning
There is so much to learn about diabetes and how it will impact your senior loved one that you will need to keep learning and keep seeking out other people in the same situation. Don’t assume you know it all after a short period of time. The more you learn the more you can help your senior parent.
If you are considering companion care at home in Memorial, TX, for an aging loved one, please call the caring staff at At Your Side Home Care. We will answer all of your senior care questions. Call today: (832) 271-1600.
Our Certified Nurse Aides, 24-Hour Live-in Assistants and Home Health Aides are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We also provide the security and confidence of 24-hour Telephone Assistance, so fast, reliable help is always available when it's needed. To learn more about our homecare services see our homecare services page.
Different people need different levels of homecare. To meet the requirements of our clients, At Your Side Homecare maintains consistent staffing levels of caring professionals. Homecare service is available for as little as a few hours a week, or as many as 24 hours a day, seven days a week
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