Diabetes is a serious disease that can lead to dangerous health problems, such as heart attack or stroke if proper health and nutrition aren’t maintained. The good news is that there are things you can do to take control of diabetes and prevent health issues.
What Is Diabetes?
Our bodies change the food we eat into glucose. Insulin helps turn glucose into energy that “fuels” our cells. If you have diabetes, your body either does not make insulin, does not use insulin the right way, or both. That means there is too much glucose in the blood. Doctors who specialize in taking care of people with diabetes are called endocrinologists.
Controlling Diabetes with Home Care
Your doctor may prescribe pills, insulin,other injectable medicines, or a combination of these to help control your blood glucose levels. When you have diabetes, your body does not use or make insulin properly. Insulin can be taken by shots/injections, with an insulin pump, or even inhaled. In addition, you can keep control of your diabetes by:
- Tracking glucose levels. Very high glucose levels or very low glucose levels (called hypoglycemia) are dangerous health emergencies. Checking glucose levels consistently at home can help avoid future health issues.
- Making healthy food choices. Different foods affect glucose levels. At Partners in Healthcare, we can help clients plan and prepare healthy meals according to dietary recommendations from their doctors.
- Getting exercise. Daily exercise can help improve glucose levels in older people with diabetes. Our caregivers can work with a client’s doctor to develop a daily exercise routine to help keep glucose levels under control.
- Keeping track of how clients are doing. At Partners in Healthcare, we develop a care plan that meets each client’s individual care needs and monitor and adjust that plan regularly for maximum effectiveness.
Appropriate nutrition choices tare critical in managing diabetes. Our caregivers will assist with meal planning and preparation to promote a healthy diet. Transportation to the grocery store includes encouragement to make healthy choices. Equally important in diabetes is regular exercise. Our caregivers are trained to safely support all prescribed activity.
For more information on how you or your loved one can better control diabetes, visit the National Institute on Aging website. Our RN care managers will help you and your family design and manage a care plan built around you! If you’d like more information on our diabetes home care services, feel free to give us a call at 407-788-9393.
Careful management of diabetes is necessary in order to stay comfortably at home. .. Out of control blood sugar can lead to dangerous health problems including heart attack and stroke, so blood glucose monitoring is essential. If blood sugar is unstable, our RNs communicate with providers to prevent further problems. Our care managers will create a plan to help you or your loved one manage diabetes and remain in the comfort of home.