Given that one in four seniors has type II diabetes, it\u2019s very likely that your client already knows how serious the condition can become. However, even if your client already has his or her own daily routines in place, an extra set of hands and eyes can go a long way in making sure the condition doesn\u2019t worsen overnight. If you have a client or loved one with type II diabetes, take a look at our comprehensive diabetes management checklist to see how you can help them look and feel their best from head to toe!<\/p>\n
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People with diabetes are much more likely to suffer from gum disease, oral fungus, dry mouth, and more. Go above and beyond by encouraging your client to prioritize his or her oral hygiene. Here are some tips:<\/p>\n
Caregiver Tip:<\/i> You might consider packing a flosser and a toothbrush travel kit, especially if you and your client decide to eat out.<\/strong><\/p>\n People with diabetes are also extremely susceptible to contracting infections from skin wounds. Even something small, such as a callus or a cut, can lead to serious problems. Give your client a hand-held mirror for hard-to-reach areas and offer to help check their hard-to-see areas each and every day. Be on the lookout for spots, blisters, and sores. <\/p>\n Caregiver Tip:<\/i> Dry skin is much easier to damage. Mild soap and warm (not hot) baths and showers are the best for preventing dry skin. Help your client use a doctor-approved moisturizer (everywhere but between the toes) and avoid foot soaking. In addition, make sure that your client is thoroughly dry before dressing, especially between the toes. <\/strong><\/p>\n Whether your client needs help actually measuring his or her blood sugar or only needs a reminder to do so, daily monitoring provides vital, ongoing feedback that your client\u2019s healthcare team can use to discover patterns and trends. The data can also help guide your client towards more informed decisions regarding which food and exercise plans are most effective, as well as which medications are working most successfully. Encourage your client to record these blood sugar levels in a logbook each and every day. <\/p>\n Caregiver Tip:<\/i> Keep all of the supplies you and your client use to regularly monitor blood sugar levels in one convenient place. In addition, set reminders on your client\u2019s watch, alarm clock, or smartphone. <\/strong><\/p>\n Make sure your client takes all of his or her daily medications. Your level of involvement in your client\u2019s medication regimen will vary from client-to-client and also may increase as he or she ages. Always follow all advice given by your client\u2019s healthcare team and immediate family. <\/p>\n Caregiver Tip:<\/i> You can find pill organizers at your local pharmacy. When choosing your client\u2019s pill organizer, be sure to find one with easy-to-read labels that can be closed and opened by both you and your client. <\/strong><\/p>\n Keep blood sugar levels stable by sticking to a relatively strict meal routine that includes several healthy snacks in between meals. Always follow the meal plan provided by your patient\u2019s health-care team, but it\u2019s usually a good idea to prioritize carbohydrates for maximum energy. <\/p>\n Caregiver Tip:<\/i> Do not ever skip meals because your client\u2019s blood glucose can drop very quickly. Always have a healthy snack on hand!<\/strong><\/p>\n Encourage your client to drink lots of caffeine-free and sugar-free fluids to keep his or her body and skin extra hydrated. <\/p>\n Caregiver Tip:<\/i> Once a person notices thirst, he or she is most often already dehydrated. As soon as your client finishes a glass of water, go ahead and fill it up again. More frequent trips to the restroom will be helpful in preventing urinary tract and kidney infections, which are common in patients with diabetes. <\/strong><\/p>\n Daily exercise not only supports a healthy weight, but it can also improve insulin sensitivity due to its ability to lower blood glucose levels. It\u2019s usually a good idea to exercise one hour after eating and encourage your client to check his or her blood sugar levels before, during, and after exercise. However, keep in mind that it\u2019s always<\/i> a good idea to consult your client\u2019s healthcare team before beginning a new exercise program.<\/p>\n Caregiver Tip:<\/i> Don\u2019t hesitate to exercise with your client! Research shows that an exercise buddy provides more motivation than exercising alone!<\/strong><\/p>\n Stress can affect your client\u2019s blood sugar. To ease stress, have your client consider walking, deep breathing exercises, gardening, meditation, listening to music, or working on a hobby. <\/p>\n Caregiver Tip:<\/i> Whatever happens, do not bring any of your own stress into your client\u2019s life. Even though you both have probably developed a deep and friendly relationship, always do your best to keep your work life and your personal life very separate.<\/strong><\/p>\n Again, people with diabetes are very prone to skin infections, most often occurring on the feet. What\u2019s worse, those with nerve damage may not even feel a cut or a sore. Even something you think is small can develop into an infection that if not addressed, can lead to a full amputation of the foot. In addition to regularly checking for red spots, blisters, calluses, and foot sores:<\/p>\n Check for ingrown toenails daily as they can lead to infection. Regularly trim nails straight across with a nail clipper and then smooth them with an emery board. Do not round off nail corners.<\/p>\n Caregiver Tip: Never be afraid to reach out to your client\u2019s family or healthcare team. If you see something that bothers you, speak up! It\u2019s always better to be safe than sorry!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Given that one in four seniors has type II diabetes, it\u2019s very likely that your client already knows how serious the condition can become. However, even if your client already has his or her own daily routines in place, an extra set of hands and eyes can go a long way in making sure the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":5204,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[59,60,58],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5462","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aging","category-caregivers","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seniorsolutionshomecare.com\/nashville\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5462","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seniorsolutionshomecare.com\/nashville\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seniorsolutionshomecare.com\/nashville\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seniorsolutionshomecare.com\/nashville\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seniorsolutionshomecare.com\/nashville\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5462"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.seniorsolutionshomecare.com\/nashville\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5462\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seniorsolutionshomecare.com\/nashville\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5204"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seniorsolutionshomecare.com\/nashville\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5462"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seniorsolutionshomecare.com\/nashville\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5462"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seniorsolutionshomecare.com\/nashville\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5462"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Pay extra attention to your client\u2019s skincare needs.<\/h4>\n
The Body<\/h3>\n
Help monitor and record your client\u2019s daily blood sugar levels.<\/h4>\n
Make sure your client takes his or her daily medications.<\/h4>\n
Ensure your client maintains a regular and balanced diet.<\/h4>\n
Make sure your client stays hydrated.<\/h4>\n
Encourage your client to be more active.<\/h4>\n
Do your part to minimize stress.<\/h4>\n
The Feet<\/h3>\n
Pay extra attention to your client\u2019s feet and foot care routine.<\/h4>\n
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