Helping Elderly Loved Ones with Diabetes

MediNurse, now in its fourth decade as the premier provider of private duty nursing in St. Louis, reminds the public of the potential dangers of diabetes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control’s 2012 report, nearly 26% of Americans over the age of 65 have diabetes, and more than half fail to properly control their blood glucose levels. Another quarter of the senior citizen population fits the criteria for insulin resistance due to the general effects of aging, weight gain and more sedentary lifestyles. In 2013, diabetes cost the U.S. more than $245 billion dollars per year. That figure rises each year.

Compared to younger populations, the elderly suffer stronger effects of diabetes, and treatment can be more difficult. Depression, dementia or other cognitive impairments can cause elderly people to be forgetful. They may miss meals or be unable to remember to check blood sugar levels or take their medications. Seniors are also more likely to suffer from inadequate nutrition and lack of proper exercise.

The most important things you can do to help your aging loved ones include:

· Help them maintain proper nutrition by assisting with grocery shopping or meal planning/preparation when possible.

· Because vision problems are common with diabetes, help them to set up their medications in an easy-to-use daily pill box, and help administer insulin, if necessary. Remind them to take medications as prescribed.

· Remind them to check blood sugar as the doctor instructs.

· Read and understand their diabetes insurance information, so you can save them as much money and get them as much help as possible.

· Inquire frequently about symptoms of diabetes-related complications.

· Remind them to get a fair amount of exercise and treat any complications immediately.

· Remind them to follow the advice given by their healthcare provider.

Sometimes it’s difficult or impossible to provide proper in-home care for elderly loved ones. MediNurse, St. Louis’ premier provider of private duty nursing services, can provide services from meal preparation to medication management to companionship for daily walks. MediNurse provides services that are customized to the individual needs of the client or patient and loved ones to ensure the best care possible. For more information, call 314-781-2800 or visit www.medinurse.com.