Take the Pressure Out of the Numbers

One of the biggest causes of stress for diabetic seniors is worrying about their blood sugar numbers, especially when they’re high for reasons that are unclear. Blood sugar is impacted by so many different factors. Sometimes monitoring glucose numbers can become obsessive for diabetic seniors, which leads to anxiety and frustration. Blood sugar numbers are just a tool used to help manage diabetes, and home care providers can help seniors to keep that in perspective.

Perfection Isn’t vhe Goal

Another big cause of stress for diabetic seniors is trying to manage diabetes perfectly. Perfection shouldn’t be the goal. It’s much more important to consistently make progress toward better diabetes management. This happens when seniors work with their medical providers and keep making incremental choices that support better health.

Remove Obstacles that Make Care Difficult

Obstacles make anything more difficult and for seniors with diabetes some of the obstacles to better health can include trouble remembering to take medication, difficulty managing dietary changes, and having the daily support they need. 24-hour home care providers can be there for seniors to offer them the support they need to have the best possible quality of life with diabetes. Caregivers can also help seniors get to medical appointments and have access to the supplies they need.

Prioritize Positivity

Cultivating a positive attitude is an important part of helping seniors to stay healthier and stress-free, even with diabetes. Seniors can start to look at diabetes management as self-care rather than a difficult burden to bear. Having the support that they need can help them to make those mindset shifts, embracing positivity along the way. There may still be days that are more challenging, but a positive mindset can still help.

Find Lots of Support and Assistance

Having access to as much support and help as possible is crucial for seniors with diabetes. Support groups can be an important piece of the puzzle, for instance. When seniors know that they have the hands-on and emotional support that they need, a lot of the stress of managing diabetes can fade into the background. This can also help family caregivers to experience a lot less stress.

There are lots of different facets to managing diabetes, especially for seniors. Stress makes everything worse, so finding ways to mitigate that stress for aging adults can help them to finally get a better handle on their health issues, including blood sugar levels that are too high. 24-hour home care enables seniors to have support that they need around the clock, ensuring that they don’t have to worry about needing help and not having it.

If you or an aging loved one is considering 24-hour home care in Clayton, CA, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Walnut Creek. (925) 203-3039.

The post How to Help Seniors Manage Diabetes by Managing Stress Levels appeared first on Golden Heart East Bay.

Over time, these high blood sugar levels may damage the vessels and nerves in the feet. The nerve damage, also known as diabetic neuropathy, can cause some foot problems as well as mask some foot problems.

If your loved one has diabetes, home care assistance can support her daily efforts to manage the disease. These efforts can include a specific diet, incorporating exercise into her daily life, or assessing them regularly for signs of damage.

Here are some ways to help keep your loved one’s feet healthy:

1. Check them daily for any type of injury. Because diabetic neuropathy can cause feet to become numb and not always feel the pain associated with a cut or scrape, it’s easy for those areas to become infected without your loved one knowing. A home care assistance provider can help look for any new sores or ingrown toenails that might need medical attention.
2. Wash them daily. Don’t soak them, but give a good washing each day with warm (not hot) water and soap. Then make sure to dry them well and apply lotion if dry skin is a problem. Never apply lotion between the toes. Use talcum powder between toes if needed.
3. Trim the nails, but not too short. Your loved one might need help trimming her own nails. That’s where your home care assistance provider can help or you might have her visit a podiatrist. Nails should be cut straight across and left long enough to prevent ingrown toenails from developing.
4. Since the feet often can no longer feel heat or cold very well, it’s important to prepare them correctly for the elements and not rely on signals from them about being too hot or too cold. If your loved one is walking on a hot, sunny day, make sure she’s not barefoot, even at the beach. Invest in some beach shoes that’ll protect her feet from the hot sand or cement around a pool. When it’s cold outside, wool socks and well-fitting warm shoes are the key to keeping her feet comfortable.
5. Put her feet up. When it’s time to rest, putting your loved one’s feet up on an ottoman or the couch can help with blood flow. Encourage her to wiggle her toes and make sure socks are not too tight.

With proper care, your loved one’s feet will stay in good shape.

Reference
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/features/healthy-feet.html

If you or an aging loved one is considering home care assistance in Lafayette, CA, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Walnut Creek. (925) 203-3039.

The post Foot Care for Diabetics appeared first on Golden Heart East Bay.