How can in-home care help your parent or grandparent to manage type 2 diabetes? More than 14 million seniors 65 and over have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. If your loved one is aging in place and has diabetes, take a look at what you need to know about home caregiving services.
Help with Medications
Does your parent or grandparent take medications to control their blood sugar? Common medications patients with type 2 diabetes take include sulfonylureas, metformin, meglitinides, DPP-4 inhibitors, thiazolidinediones, GLP-1 receptor agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors, and insulin.
While many adults can take these types of medications without assistance, seniors who have mobility and memory impairment may need extra help. These medications require the diabetic to handle pills or manipulate syringes/insulin pens. Age- and illness-related hand and finger mobility issues can interfere with the senior's ability to effectively take their diabetes medications.
A home caregiver can monitor the medications and make sure your loved one takes the right amount at the right time. This can help to stabilize their blood sugar levels and reduce the health risks of uncontrolled diabetes.
Help with Blood Sugar Monitoring
Blood sugar monitoring is essential for anyone with diabetes. Consistent checks can help your loved one to better understand the progression of the disease and reduce the likelihood that they'll have complications such as nerve damage, kidney damage, glaucoma, cataracts, wounds that won't heal easily, or heart/blood vessel disease.
A home health caregiver can help your parent or grandparent with finger-prick tests or assist them with continuous blood glucose monitors (depending on what type of testing/monitoring system they choose to use). The caregiver can also record blood sugar levels and alert the doctor or other medical provider of significant changes, emergency issues, or patterns.
Help with Doctor's Appointments
Regular medical care and checkups are critical for your loved one's health. If your parent or grandparent can't drive themselves to the doctor's office or to another medical provider visit, a home health caregiver can help. Not only will the caregiver provide help in your family member's home, but they can also provide transportation to medical appointments.
It's likely that your parent or grandparent will need to visit an endocrinologist. This type of medical provider specializes in hormone imbalances and issues—helping patients with diabetes and other related disorders. Along with trips to the endocrinologist's office, your loved one may also need to see a general practitioner, eye doctor, cardiologist, or wound care specialist.
To learn more about in-home care, contact a health care provider.
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