Manage Diabetes with In-Home Care
An estimated 33% of adults aged 65 or older have diabetes. Older adults more at risk of developing diabetes-related complications like hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), kidney failure, and heart disease.
Currently over 90% of our nation’s healthcare expenditures (over $3.8 trillion) are spent of people with chronic conditions.
In 2020, diabetes was the nation’s eighth-leading cause of death, accounting for 102,188 deaths annually. People with diabetes are twice as likely to have heart disease or a stroke than those without diabetes.
1 out of 3 deaths is from heart disease including CHF and strokes. Heart Disease has contributing factors and is linked with diabetes.
Contributing Factors to Heart Disease Include;
- Sedentary Lifestyle
- Poor Diet and Nutrition
- Family/Hereditary
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy.
Your body breaks down most of the food you eat into sugar (glucose) and releases it into your bloodstream. When your blood sugar goes up, it signals your pancreas to release insulin. Insulin acts like a key to let the blood sugar into your body’s cells for use as energy.
With diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it as well as it should. When there isn’t enough insulin or cells stop responding to insulin, too much blood sugar stays in your bloodstream. Over time, that can cause serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.
Types of Diabetes & Blood Sugar Related Conditions
There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant). There is also a condition called Prediabetes where blood sugar levels are high but not yet Diabetic.
With older adults over the age of 65 Type 2 Diabetes is prevalent. Alliance Senior Care Specialty Care Services can help manage Diabetes in your elderly loved ones.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is thought to be caused by an autoimmune reaction (the body attacks itself by mistake). This reaction stops your body from making insulin. Approximately 5-10% of the people who have diabetes have type 1. Symptoms of type 1 diabetes often develop quickly. It’s usually diagnosed in children, teens, and young adults. If you have type 1 diabetes, you’ll need to take insulin every day to survive. Currently, no one knows how to prevent type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes
With type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t use insulin well and can’t keep blood sugar at normal levels. About 90-95% of people with diabetes have type 2. It develops over many years and is usually diagnosed in adults (but more and more in children, teens, and young adults). You may not notice any symptoms, so it’s important to get your blood sugar tested if you’re at risk. Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with healthy lifestyle changes, such as:
Losing weight.
Eating healthy food.
Being active.
In-Home Care with Alliance Senior Care allows you to live better, longer with heart failure
HF/CHF can make everyday activities more difficult and cause common symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and cough.
One thing that can make a big difference is the support of family, friends, and/or professional home caregivers who understand heart failure, its warning signs, and HF/CHF management. There are many things an individual can do at home to feel better and live longer.
Alliance Senior care In-Home Care can help with managing these Steps:
- Take Insulin Regularly
Taking Insulin regularly is key to keeping blood sugar levels normal. Diabetes causes other health conditions and maintaining normal blood sugar levels is key to staying healthy.
- Monitoring blood sugar
Regular blood sugar checks are important to know if you are taking the right dosage of Insulin. Alliance Senior Care provides Specialty Services to help your elderly loved one keep regularity in checking their blood sugar along with other services to help manage Diabetes.
- Get plenty of exercise
Exercise is important when it comes to keeping blood sugar levels normal. Walking and other forms of activity can help keep blood sugar levels normal.
- Eat Healthy
A good diet with plenty of vegetables and protein will help. Alliance Senior Care offers Nutrition Services as a part of In-Home Care.
- Get regular check ups
Keeping regular check ups is key to making sure your elderly loved one is getting the right dose of Insulin and to make sure other health conditions such as kidney disease and heart issues.
How Alliance Senior Care Can Help Your Loved One
Professional home health care services are an extension of your doctor’s care and the most cost-effective way to ensure that your elderly loved one’s diabetes is comprehensively managed on a regular basis.
If you have Diabetes, Alliance Senior Care can help you with:
- Managing diet and lifestyle changes with Nutrition Support
- Giving medication reminders and managing medication schedules
- Monitoring blood sugar and for changes in overall health
- Helping with getting to and from Doctor’s appointments
- Providing support and education for client and family members about chronic illness and the purpose, side effects, and interactions of medications
To learn more about how In-Home Care can help improve your loved ones’ quality of life, call Alliance Senior Care at 248-274-2170. It’s not just In-Home Care, it is Integrated Care.
Home Care are an excellent resource for family caregivers and seniors alike.
Alliance Senior Care Home Care services offer a wide range of services providing healthcare, daily living assistance, transportation to and from Doctor’s appointments and tailored care services for additional circumstances.