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Caregiving for a loved one with diabetes can be difficult. In the early stages, it might include simply testing blood sugar on a regular basis and ensuring that your loved one takes their medications as directed. But diabetes is a chronic condition that gets tougher to control as time goes on, meaning that it takes more and more effort and diligence to keep a person healthy.
Studies have found that the longer a person has diabetes, the more likely they are to suffer from complications. Those complications can make life more challenging. It can affect their eyesight, the function of their kidneys and other organs, the health of their skin, and even their mood. Some complications, such as diabetic neuropathy, can even make falls much more likely, which could then lead to more devastating consequences – thus, a very good reason to gift your loved one with a medical alert bracelet or wristband.
It’s important for caregivers to understand what diabetes is, what it can do, and how you can best take care of the person you love. Let’s start with a basic understanding of the two types of diabetes that are most common in seniors and the elderly.
Understanding the Types
There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that often shows up in children, adolescents, and young adults. This occurs when the pancreas no longer produces insulin. These individuals need insulin to survive, but with proper care they can live a long, healthy life. Type 1 diabetes has nothing at all to do with age, weight, or lifestyle choices.
Type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease that can show up at any time. It is usually linked to obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and poor diet, though other factors can come into play as well. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas still produces insulin, but the body doesn’t use it as effectively as it used to. Over time, the insulin resistance of the body can become great enough that the pancreas stops producing insulin at all. That’s when someone with type 2 diabetes might need to begin insulin injections.
There are some other types of diabetes that are rather rare, such as diabetes that occurs during treatment for cancer. Some drugs can limit the function of the pancreas or how the body uses insulin, which can lead to diabetes. Fortunately, this type of diabetes is usually temporary.
Caregiving for Diabetics
According to the American Diabetes Association, almost 12% of the overall population had diabetes in 2021. That’s about 38 million Americans. Among those over the age of 65, just over 29% had diabetes. That’s 16.5 million seniors!1
Many of those seniors have family caregivers who help them keep diabetes and other chronic conditions under control. A study in the Journal of Public Health Research found that while the day-to-day effort of caring for someone with diabetes usually doesn’t require much in the way of physical effort, the emotional toll that care takes can be enormous.2 That’s especially true if the person with diabetes is suffering from complications that limit their daily activities and lead to worsening medical conditions.
Here are some tips for caring for someone with diabetes:
· Write everything down. Keeping a blood sugar log is a basic necessity, but it can be helpful to write down other things too. Keep track of their medicine schedule, what they eat for meals, how they feel, the exercise they engage in and when, as well as notes on other issues that might relate to diabetes, such as any pain or numbness in their feet and the severity of it. Writing everything down allows you to look for patterns.
· Ensure they have the right supplies. The most basic supplies necessary are a glucose meter, a lancet pen or similar device, and a good amount of test strips. Depending upon the situation, they might need other supplies, such as the supplies to store and inject insulin. Talk to their doctor to make sure they have everything they need and plenty of it.
· Know when to test. Timing is everything when managing diabetes. The general rule of thumb is to test blood sugar right before a meal, two hours after a meal, and first thing in the morning. But their doctor might have planned a different schedule of testing, so make sure you know what that is. It’s also important to test before, during, and after exercise, as well as anytime they feel sick or stressed.
· Help them avoid stress. Stress can have a wicked effect on blood sugar, so daily activities to help them ease stress can be quite helpful. Meditation and deep breathing exercises are always good. Gardening or walking can provide stress relief as well as good exercise. And keep in mind that whatever works for them might work to relieve your stress, too.
· Offer a healthy diet. While sugary sweets are notorious for sending blood sugar levels up, did you know that savory carbohydrates can do the same thing? For some, pasta is the worst possible culprit. Watch how certain foods affect their blood sugar and adjust their diet accordingly.
· Keep healthy snacks on hand at all times. Just as high blood sugar can have a negative effect on their health, so can blood sugar that drops too low. This is especially likely among those who are on insulin or a variety of diabetes medications. When their blood sugar goes too low, offer full-strength juices, sweet candies, and the like to bring the blood sugar back up.
· Find the right exercise. This might look very different depending upon your loved one’s physical abilities. Someone who is still quite active can exercise on a regular basis and might be able to better control their diabetes through physical activity. But those who have difficulty with mobility or suffer from other problems will need exercise that takes into account those limitations. For instance, someone who can’t walk well might engage in chair exercises.
· Be alert for changes. Problems as a result of diabetes often occur gradually as high blood sugar takes a toll on the body. This is where the notes you keep come in handy. Watch for changes, not just in their day-to-day activity, but in their blood sugar levels over time. If you see those levels creeping up even with dietary and medication changes, they are much more likely to suffer from complications.
Anyone who has diabetes should wear a personal alarm button with them at all times. This allows them to reach out for help at any moment, 24/7, and the quick attention that results can be a literal lifesaver. Every caregiver can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that there as a safety net for the person they love.
Potential Complications of Diabetes
Some of the complications that can occur as a result of diabetes can wreak havoc on a person’s physical, mental, and emotional state. Some of the most common complications include damage to the eyes, kidneys, and nerves. Other complications can arise that are more difficult to discern. For instance, the CDC reports that those with diabetes are two times more likely to develop heart disease and strokes than those who don’t have diabetes.3
Here are some of the complications caregivers should watch for:
· Problems with the teeth, gums, and mouth can occur among those who have diabetes. Gum disease, dry mouth, and the development of fungus that requires antibiotics are some of the most common issues. Watch for bleeding from the gums, pain when brushing or flossing, or difficulties in eating.
· Small cuts or scrapes can turn into larger wounds, as diabetes prevents the body from healing itself as effectively as it used to. A wound that just won’t heal is a sign that blood sugar could be out of control.
· Dry skin is also common among those with diabetes, and that can lead to other problems, such as cracks or fissures in the skin that turn into larger wounds. Mild soap and warm baths can help avoid dry skin, as can a powerful moisturizer. Ask their doctor for recommendations.
· If they begin to complain that their feet are numb, they can’t feel their toes, or they are experiencing shooting pain in their feet and lower legs, that could be a sign of diabetic neuropathy. That often means that the blood vessels and nerves in the feet are damaged from years of high blood glucose. This warrants an immediate call to the doctor.
· Paying attention to their feet is crucial. Since diabetes can often lead to neuropathy in the feet, sometimes your loved one might not notice if they have an ingrown toenail, red spots, blisters, or other sores. These problems can worsen quickly. Looking at their feet every day and ensuring all is well can help them avoid serious complications later.
· If they mention issues with their vision, pay attention! The small blood vessels in the eyes can be adversely affected by diabetes and that can lead to serious complications, including diabetic retinopathy and vision loss. If you notice they are squinting or their glasses don’t work as well as they used to, get them checked out. That’s in addition to the routine visits to the eye doctor.
· Any changes in urination or pain in their abdomen is cause for concern, as diabetes can affect the kidneys. That can make it tough to filter out toxins. Kidney disease is one of the more common complications of advanced diabetes.
· Be alert to changes in their bloodwork, especially the results of their A1c test. This test is a good indication of what their blood sugar levels have been, on average, over the last three months. When the A1c goes up but it doesn’t seem to correspond with their daily blood sugar levels, there might be some other problem that needs to be addressed.
· If they begin to feel anxious and depressed, deal with that promptly. Diabetes has a strong connection to depression, and depression can lead to a lack of motivation. That makes them much less likely to handle the intricacies of their diabetes treatment.
It’s also important to watch for changes with other health issues. For example, diabetes can affect high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. If these other problems suddenly start to slip out of control even with appropriate treatment and medication, something else could be wrong. It’s time to go to the doctor to get a workup.
The American Diabetes Association says that about 40% of those who have diabetes also have other health problems. Many of those health problems require medications to keep them under control. Due to this, a person with diabetes might be taking numerous medications, and that can lead to drug interactions. When your loved one begins a new medication, make absolutely sure that it doesn’t conflict with anything else they have been prescribed. To be sure, talk to the doctor and the pharmacist.
Caregiving for the Caregiver
Taking care of someone who has diabetes can be really tough. That’s why a support group for caregivers is an excellent idea. Support groups allow you to talk with those who are going through the same issues, gather helpful tips, and alleviate the worries and isolation you might feel.
Another good way to give yourself some breathing room is with a medical alert system with fall detection from Alert1. This can alleviate the worry that something bad will happen to your loved one if you aren’t around. If they suffer a fall or any other medical emergency, they can easily get the help they need by simply pressing a button. It’s a wonderful way to make sure both caregivers and their loved ones feel safe.
