You want to do your best as a caregiver to care for a senior citizen with diabetes. However, you shouldn’t be overbearing. Diabetes is manageable, and you should portray that as you care for them.
The elderly with diabetes need extra care- especially if they have physical or mental restrictions. They cannot do things independently, and they need some essential items to make their lives easier.
As per the CDC, over 34.2 million Americans have diabetes, and approximately twenty-five percent of this number is 65 and older. Most older adults with diabetes have continence issues. How can you take care of an older adult with diabetes properly? The post below has answers to this and more.
Benefits of Adult Diapers
Also known as briefs and incontinence pads, Prevail adult diapers boast plenty of advantages. Some of them are:
- They help with severe diarrhea
- They help ladies who are prone to contaminations due to unhygienic toilets
- They assist with fecal and urinary incontinence
- They can be helpful for invalids with mental difficulties or those with dementia
- They can help individuals with poor bladder control or those who are bedridden
About Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease that starts when the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin or cells cannot use the insulin produced.
Pointers for Living With Diabetes
You can regulate diabetes. Here are some suggestions to make that possible:
Have A Routine
Individuals with diabetes should check their sugar levels frequently. You should have it reviewed in the morning before breakfast, as it will help them know how much insulin you should take later. The same goes for checking blood sugar after meals to help you determine what dose of medication is needed.
2. Monitor What You Eat
A person with diabetes needs to have a particular diet plan.
You should:
- Avoid sugary drinks and snacks, and
- Eat approximately five servings of fruits and vegetables every day.
3. Exercise More Often And Drink Water
Exercising is also a vital part of the treatment routine. Not only does it help you feel better, but also it can lower blood sugar levels and bad cholesterol.
4. Maintain A Healthy Weight
If you have diabetes and are overweight, talk to your doctor about weight loss programs that are right for you. It will help you control the illness and avoid heart problems and other ailments linked with obesity. With this, doctors can also recommend a diabetes treatment which you can buy Ozempic from Canada that is affordable, which you can also consult with your healthcare provider and follow all necessary legal and safety protocols.
5. Know The Warning Signs Of Hypoglycemia And Hyperglycemia
Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar can affect your ability to think and make decisions properly, which is why you need to know the warning signs:
- Dizziness,
- Headache,
- Nervousness,
- Tremor, and
- Hunger.
If you experience these signs, immediately check your sugar levels and take the necessary actions to bring them back to normal.
Hyperglycemia or high blood sugar levels can also affect your ability to make good decisions, which is why you need to know all the warning signs:
- Blurry vision
- Little thirst and a lot of urination
- Dry mouth
- Frequent infections
If you experience any of these manifestations, visit your doctor right away. You may need to adjust your diet or take an extra dose of medication.
Suggestions on Caring for an Aged Person With Diabetes
The following are some straightforward ways to care for an elderly individual with diabetes:
Learn All You Can About Diabetes
If you’re caring for an older grown-up with diabetes, make sure to learn everything you can about the condition. You should also choose a health care provider who knows how to treat seniors with this illness properly.
Monitor Their Blood Sugar
You should be monitoring your loved one’s blood sugar levels regularly. This way, you’ll know if they have low or high blood sugar and need treatment right away. Also, ensure that you’re aware of the top symptoms of diabetes to watch for and what actions to take in each case.
Maintain a Food and Medication Schedule
Every day, your loved one should be checking their blood sugar levels in the morning before breakfast. They also need to take medication at certain times – usually before meals. Also, encourage your loved one to eat a balanced diet with lots of vegetables, healthy proteins and fats, and fewer carbohydrates than usual.
Encourage Them and Talk to Them
They need to know that you care. Make them feel appreciated and loved at all times. Talk to them every day and encourage them to take care of themselves properly, especially regarding their health. You should also praise or motivate them when they do something, even if not the right way.
Allow Them to Socialize
Most people think they’re doing older people a favor by keeping them in their room without interacting with other people. Well, that’s not the case. Socializing is vital for the aged because it can make them feel less isolated and depressed, leading to diabetes complications like poor blood sugar control.
Conclusion
Diabetes is controllable. Elderly individuals with it should always feel loved and cared for. A suitable way to achieve this is taking good care of them – especially their health. Caring for them may not always be easy, but you’ll see positive results if you empathize with them and handle them with love and respect.
