Lifestyle   Wellness
By Lifestyle Team | 17 Nov. 2021

Helping the Seniors Living with Blood Sugar Conditions

Diabetes Tips

Diabetes is a stubborn disease! It doesn’t respect anyone’s gender, race, or beliefs. Anyone can get dragonized of it; the poor and rich-the educated and ignorant. Research, however, reveals that diabetes pounces heavily on a certain group of people.

The elderly people. Global statistics on the spread of diabetes show that about 19.3% (135.6 million) of people beyond 64 live with diabetes. It’s a disturbing story because it’s also predicted that by 2030, 27.9% (195.2million) of the aged people will be diabetic.

It’s becoming more terrible. The numbers are skyrocketing. But it’s not a big problem because living with diabetes is not a death sentence. You can change things by doing all you can for your loved one. This article shares easy-to-follow but helpful tips on helping older people to manage diabetes.

Know Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes

First thing first. It is advisable to know how sugar diabetes manifests before even thinking about managing it. There are multiple symptoms of diabetes, and they vary from one person to another. The common signs symptoms of diabetes include:

  • Increased hunger
  • Frequent urination
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Blurry vision
  • Slow-healing sores

You’ve got the right to suspect that your loved one has diabetes when any of these symptoms show on them. The best you can do is accompany them to the nearest and convenient clinic for blood sugar tests. You must prefer clinic diabetic tests to home tests, especially if it’s their first time to get tested for diabetes. If the test results confirm that they’re living with diabetes, then you need to consider the following tips.

Tell Them Diabetes is Manageable

Healing doesn’t happen where there is no peace of mind. Therefore, keep assuring your loved ones that diabetes is manageable and it can’t stop them from living a normal life. Sometimes people with health problems need hope more than anything else, and diabetic people are not an exception.

Words can heal, and for now, forget about what you think your money can do.
Share words that power your loved one stays on top of the situation. They don’t need anyone but you to encourage them that they shouldn’t fear anything. Help them get rid of stress before you encourage them to take medication. Stress hormones raise blood sugar.

Seek Guidance from Professionals

Get in touch with the right healthcare professionals throughout the treatment process. Professionals such as dietitians, endocrinologists, and primary health care physicians are trained to attend to diabetic people. They can see beyond what an ordinary person sees. They have the knowledge and experience needed to help your loved one control their blood sugar.

Your job is to find the right ones, make arrangements and contact them when you need help.

It’s wise to prefer those that are willing to help, especially in emergencies. Consider multiple health professionals as long as their approaches don’t conflict.

Monitor Blood Sugar Levels

One of the things you do if you’re serious about helping a diabetic elderly person is to ensure their blood sugar levels is regularly monitored. It might be difficult for someone suffering from severe diabetes to have the strength to fight it head-on. Aging minds tend to forget things, so you need to help them daily check and keep their blood sugar levels. Doctors often request and use those kinds of records in giving advice and treatments. It becomes easy for doctors to prescribe medical treatment for your loved one if they provide their blood sugar records.

Go for Diabetes-Friendly Diet

Diabetic people shouldn’t eat anything and anyhow. They must avoid any food that is low in dietary fiber and high in sugars by every necessary means. These foods include starches (potatoes and white flour, etc.) and processed grains (rice and corn grits, etc.).

Ensure the meals for your diabetic old man have the right quantities of proteins and fruits, and vegetables that are rich high in fiber and nitrates. These foods help diabetic people maintain the right blood sugar level when consumed in the right amounts.

It is also important to consult with doctors on the number of meals and quantity of each meal a particular diabetic person should take per day. If they eat as doctors recommend, they’ll be able to maintain normal blood sugar levels.

Exercise Routinely and Properly

Exercises help the body process glucose; as such, they are crucial for diabetic people. Physical activities lower blood sugar levels. You should enquire with doctors if your senior is fit for exercising to control their blood sugar. The exercises shouldn’t harm your older man in any way. Walking, yoga, swimming, and tai chi are some of the exercises diabetic older people can do. You can also exercise with them to motivate them and ensure that they don’t harm themselves in the process.

Final Thoughts

Diabetes affects old age people more than young people. The percentage of people above the age of 65 living with diabetes is high, and it’s expected to keep rising. But you can do your best to help your loved one manage diabetes. You can do this through several ways: comforting them, seeking guidance from healthcare professionals, monitoring their blood sugar levels, and ensuring they’re eating as doctors recommend. Help your loved one today to manage diabetes.