Diabetes Care Guidelines For Older Adults

If an elderly member of the family is diagnosed with diabetes, then caring for them can be a sensitive case and requires special attention as the older adults may be ingesting other medications as well. In such cases, it is the responsibility of the caretaker to take all necessary steps to make sure that the victim battles the complexities of diabetes smoothly.

In order to find out ways to care for older adults with diabetes, it is important to learn about diabetes first. Diabetes is a health condition which when hits you then either your body stops making enough insulin (type 1) or your body may not use insulin in the right manner (type 2) or both situations may also arise.

Knowing about diabetes will give us fair understanding of what our elders, who are diagnosed with diabetes, are really going through and it will also prepare us better in designing a proper care routine for our older adults.

So through this article, we bring to you certain important diabetes care guidelines for older adults.

Knowing About Medications
First important diabetes care guideline for older adults is learning about the different types of medications that are given to treat the complex disease as learning about this can aid the caretaker in preventing serious complications from building up.

Caretakers must know that there are some medicines that lower the blood glucose levels and some that don’t. Identifying the two types will help the caretaker in providing appropriate meals to the patient.

Checking For HHNK
When older adults are diagnosed with diabetes then it is mostly with type 2 diabetes. Such patients can fall victim to hyperosmolar hyperglycemic non-ketotic coma. Major symptoms to look for HHNK can be either infection or severe dehydration.

In such a case, blood sugar glucose level may shoot above 1000mg/dl! In an emergency case as this one, the most important diabetes care guidelines for older adults would be immediately rushing them to hospital.

Understand Medical History
Older adults with diabetes require customized help because whilst being diabetic, not all of them suffer with similar issues. While some may be healthy enough to manage their diabetes by themselves, some may suffer with multiple diabetes complications and need regular aid.

So it is important to know the medical history of your loved one so that it becomes easier for their doctor to assess if tight blood glucose control is needed.

Exercise For Older Adults

Age appropriate exercises are always a great way to fight several health issues and to remain fit. Be it walks over small distances as per body’s ability or chair exercises, exercise for older adults with diabetes is indeed very important.

Exercise for older adults with diabetes does not only help in utilization of glucose but it also helps mobility which will instill/increase the feeling of self worth in them.

Foot Care
An important diabetes care guideline for older adults is taking care of their feet. Foot care is must for older adults as due to diabetes, their feet start to lose sensation. So it is important to regularly inspect feet for cuts or wounds and to test if any sensation is felt.

We hope these important diabetes care guidelines for older adults help their caretakers in designing a proper care regimen for their loved ones.