Watching your loved ones acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure older can be tough’challenging’demanding’awkward , especially if they are dealing with health issues that affect the way they would normally live their lives. Older individual are much more susceptible to illness, which is why it is significant’essential’critical’vital’crucial’indispensable’imperative in/with regard to’concerning’regarding them to remain as fit and healthy in/with regard to’concerning’regarding as long as possible. And this is even more true if they possess’own’nurse a pre-existing health condition, such as diabetes, that can mask certain symptoms and that come with their own complications.

There are two different types of diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2) and whilst both are inherently the same in terms of a lack of or an insufficient supply of insulin, which in turn affects glucose levels in the blood, they are not the same disease. In this article we are going to focus on Type 2 diabetes, as this type is most prevalent in older individual .

Roughly 1 in 10 Americans possess’own’nurse diabetes with approximately 90-95% of them having Type 2 diabetes and 26.8% aged 65 and above. This type of diabetes is often referred to as a lifestyle disease because factors such as being overweight, inactivity and age multiply the risk of developing it. Age is eliminate’remove ly something we cannot control, however the health and fitness of our loved ones is something we can impact’effect , motivate’fuel and certainly keep tabs on and in this article we are going to explore the ways in which we can do this. Let s take a look:

Know Your Levels

As the old saying goes knowledge is power and the most significant’essential’critical’vital’crucial’indispensable’imperative thing you can do in/with regard to’concerning’regarding your loved one is to remind them to regularly check their blood sugar levels. Blood glucose monitors and test strips are the conventional method of checking blood sugar levels. A standard monitor will possess’own’nurse a lancet, a digital display and a place to insert the test strip. Some individual are eligible in/with regard to’concerning’regarding free tests strips on prescription, but if not you can easily buy them online or from the pharmacy.

One thing you must check is that the strips you buy fit the peculiar blood glucose monitor you use because each has its own specifications and the strips themselves may possess’own’nurse different capabilities. For example contour sugar strips offer No Coding® technology, which means one less step in the testing process and eliminates errors due to user miscoding. These high perin/with regard to’concerning’regarding mance strips also include Second-Chance® Sampling that allows you to apply more blood and may therein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e help to prevent wasting any test strips, which of course may also help you to save money.

The process is intensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfully simple; insert the test strip into the machine, prick your finger then apply a drop of blood to the strip and the meter will take a reading of your blood sugar level. This is a quick and easy way to help individual with diabetes manage and control their condition and it could potentially save their lives.

Notice The Signs

Older individual with diabetes are at a much higher risk of hypoglycemia (often referred to as a hypo ), especially if they are on medication in/with regard to’concerning’regarding their diabetes. Hypoglycemia is a condition in which blood sugar levels are lower than normal. If left untreated, it can cause confusion, clumsiness, or fainting and in severe cases can bring about’result in’contribute to’account for’make for’trigger seizures, coma, and even death.

The token s and symptoms of hypoglycemia to look out in/with regard to’concerning’regarding include:

Feeling hungry
Sweating
Dizziness
Tiredness/fatigue
Blurred vision.
Trembling or shakiness
Going pale
Fast pulse or palpitations

These token s can be less obvious in older individual and in some cases they could undergo hypoglycemia without reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue ing any symptoms at all. If this is the case, it is significant’essential’critical’vital’crucial’indispensable’imperative to look out in/with regard to’concerning’regarding the more subtle transform’alter s in behaviour, such as the inability to concentrate, morning headaches and sleep disturbance. Older individual may also possess’own’nurse added risk factors which can multiply the risk of hypoglycemia. For example if they suffer from chronic kidney problems, they possess’own’nurse an unhealthy diet, they possess’own’nurse another underlying illness or condition, or as previously mentioned if they are on certain diabetes medication.

Eat A Healthy Diet

Regardless of whether you are diabetic or not, eating a nutrient rich and balanced diet is key to rosy’remarkable’fabulous’terrific’preeminent health. However, individual with diabetes need to more aware of this than most, as what they eat has an effect on their glucose levels and so it is significant’essential’critical’vital’crucial’indispensable’imperative to learn not merely’barely the best foods to eat, but also how much to eat and when.

If you are caring in/with regard to’concerning’regarding a loved one with diabetes yourself, you are likely in control of what they eat and so it is up to you to assure’guarantee they possess’own’nurse a diet low in sugar and saturated fats. Remember that the sugar in fruit also counts, so whilst it is healthy it should still be limited. When it potentially acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure s more tough’challenging’demanding’awkward is if your parent or loved one is in a care home meaning there is less control over what they eat. Make sure the care home knows with regards to’concerning’with respect to their condition and ask in/with regard to’concerning’regarding a sample menu so that you can check it suits their dietary needs.

Most individual with type 2 diabetes are able to control their diabetes through diet alone and by making sure they check their blood glucose levels regularly. Sometimes it goes a step beyond this and they may reach a point where they need medication to manage the condition; this is often the case in elderly individual . Unin/with regard to’concerning’regarding tunately, one of the side effects of taking diabetes medication is that even despite’in spite of’albeit it helps to control the condition it can also bring on hypoglycemia (see above).

To prevent this, it is significant’essential’critical’vital’crucial’indispensable’imperative to possess’own’nurse regular mealtimes and to eat high carb snacks. If however, you notice any of the token s of hypoglycemia it is significant’essential’critical’vital’crucial’indispensable’imperative to make sure they eat 10-20 grams of sugar or carbohydrates (this could be 5 jelly babies, a small glass of pure fruit juice, half a banana or even some glucose tablets) and then retest their blood glucose level after approximately 15 minutes, repeating if the level remains low. If it continues to stay low, seek medical attention straight away’in a flash’promptly’instantaneous’in a trice .

Exercise Regularly But Safely

The American Diabetes Association recommends exercising 30 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week. It sounds a lot, especially in/with regard to’concerning’regarding older individual who may be less mobile. But exercise doesn t necessarily mean high intensity workouts, even going in/with regard to’concerning’regarding a cover’budge , doing the gardening, or practising some low intensity Thai chi or yoga all counts towards helping you stay fit and healthy. You could even split this up into 10 minutes of activity 3 times a day to make it more manageable.

Staying active in your senior years helps to maintain mobility, keep muscles intense’fierce’exquisite , supple and flexible, it helps with balance and co-ordination and it also enhance’promote’polish up s insulin sensitivity. Plus let s not in/with regard to’concerning’regarding acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure the fortune’property of mental health and wellness benefits that staying active brings as well. It is really significant’essential’critical’vital’crucial’indispensable’imperative to check with yours or your loved one s GP bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e starting any new exercise and remember to take it tender when you first start.

For diabetics, the best time to exercise is between one to three hours after eating, as this is when blood sugar levels are likely to be higher. You should always test your blood sugar bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e exercising and then again 30 minutes later to see if the levels are stable. Aerobic exercise such as cover’budge ing, swimming, and cycling can help to control glucose levels.

As is always be the case, if you are concerned in any way with regards to’concerning’with respect to your loved one s health you should acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure in touch with a GP and seek professional medical advice.

*collaborative post