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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1 in 10 people in the United States are living with diabetes. What’s more troubling is the percentage increases as people age, with nearly 30% of those 65 or older having diabetes. This is particularly concerning since older adults are more likely to develop diabetes-related complications, such as heart disease, kidney failure, and hypoglycemia.

Specialized In-Home Care for Diabetes Patients

While there is currently no cure for diabetes, some more positive news is that the disease can be effectively managed with medications and a change in diet and exercise. To help establish a healthy lifestyle and manage blood sugar and insulin levels, home care offers a solution to lessen the impact of diabetes on one’s health and well-being.

Caregivers can provide the following home care services to assist older adults with diabetes:

• Preparing meals in accordance with a plan set by a doctor, home health nurse, or nutritionist, such as low sodium, low cholesterol, low fat, vegetarian, or vegan.
• Managing health care, including scheduling doctor’s appointments, picking up prescriptions, and providing transportation. Caregivers can also learn about the diabetes patient’s medications, supplies, and equipment, such as blood sugar monitors and test strips.
• Monitoring health, including blood sugar levels and checking for signs of problems like wounds that aren’t healing. They can also help with foot care, such as checking toenails for swelling or signs of infection.
• Promoting healthy habits by encouraging regular physical activity, healthy eating, and getting enough sleep.
• Providing emotional support by asking the diabetes patient about what kind of aid they need and then providing that support.

Diabetes patients who would benefit from home care the most are those with frequent hospital admissions, diabetic wounds or foot ulcers, multiple new medications, or underlying disease processes that may contribute to poor diabetic control.

A Leading Home Care Resource

As one of the oldest and most well-respected home care resources in Maryland and Washington, D.C., Family & Nursing Care’s mission is to help older adults, including diabetes patients, maintain their quality of life as they age.

For more than 55 years, we have helped tens of thousands of families by providing access to a network of over 1,500 experienced Caregivers who assist with activities of daily living, mobility, errands, meal prep, and companionship, in addition to more specialized support, such as diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, Parkinson’s disease, hospice and palliative care, pneumonia, heart disease, stroke, and depression.

With only the top 8% of Caregivers who apply meeting the organization’s rigorous screening process, Family & Nursing Care’s specially trained Caregivers can provide home care support, education, and assistance to diabetes patients and their families.

To learn more about Family & Nursing Care’s leading home care services and support for diabetes patients, call us at 800-588-0517 or visit the Home Care and Diabetes page on our website.