A diabetes diagnosis late in life can feel incredibly daunting. If you have an elderly parent that has been diagnosed with diabetes, you may be wondering what comes next. What home or lifestyle changes do you need to make in order to keep seniors as safe as possible?
1. Learn the symptoms of blood sugar highs and lows.
Low blood sugar can be particularly dangerous for seniors with diabetes. Learn to recognize the symptoms of potential blood sugar lows, including:
- Weakness
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Slurred speech
- Irritability
- Lack of focus or concentration
By familiarizing yourself with those symptoms of low blood sugar, you can put yourself in a better position to react quickly if your senior loved one starts suffering from blood sugar problems. Talk to your loved one's doctor about how to best respond to those lows, including when to consider it an emergency situation and call 911 or get to the hospital.
2. Keep snacks on hand.
Snacking regularly can help maintain blood sugar levels throughout the day, preventing those lows. In fact, snacks high in protein, fiber, and healthy fats are often best for diabetics. Make sure to keep those snacks easily accessible and the fridge and pantry well-stocked.
Stock on some sugary treats, including candies or juices, to help treat blood sugar lows.
3. Help your loved one stay active.
Staying active is also a great way to help manage diabetes symptoms. Encourage seniors to get out and walk around the block several times a week, engage in a strength training routine, or take other steps to stay active and healthy. Often, a diabetes diagnosis is a wake-up call that can help remind seniors that they need to get moving more often.
4. Arrange for caregivers or check-ins when needed.
If your senior loved ones are struggling to keep their blood sugar under control, you may worry about what will happen when you are not at home. You may want to arrange to have a caregiver come by to check their blood sugar or to help make sure they get outside, especially if you're unable to get home or to check in regularly during the day. Arranging for caregivers can also help ensure that your senior loved one is taking their medication on time or provide help for a parent who may struggle with insulin management.
5. Try to make healthy food choices at home.
You don't have to revamp your entire household's diet when a senior is diagnosed with diabetes. However, you may want to make several changes to your usual routine to help keep them healthier. Talk to your senior loved one's doctor about how to manage a diabetes-friendly diet and what changes you, as a household, may need to make.
Finding out that a senior loved one has been diagnosed with diabetes can leave you stressed and worried. Senior Helpers Portland West can help seniors in Portland, Beaverton, Lake Oswego, as well as Hillsboro areas with many daily self-care tasks that can help keep diabetes better managed. Contact us today to learn more about our services.