Seniors with Diabetes can Protect Their Health
Aside from taking medications as directed, experts recommend several simple things seniors with diabetes can do to protect their health over the long term.
Eat Right
Eating a healthy diet makes a big difference to a diabetics wellbeing.
Exercise Regularly
It is important to be active and get regular exercise to manage blood sugar levels and manage diabetes over the long term. Walking, swimming or other exercise should be part of a diabetic senior’s daily routine.
Practice Proactive Health Care
Seeing the doctor regularly, and completing routine screenings as recommended, will enable a diabetic senior to uncover potential complications early on, when it’s easiest and most effective to treat.
Routine eye exams can prevent vision-threatening complications. Blood work and urine tests can detect changes in cholesterol levels, kidney function and other conditions that can be treated with early intervention.
Vaccines are another important step diabetic seniors can take preventatively to protect their health.
Protect and Inspect Feet Daily
Diabetics are at high risk for complications when they have sores on their feet, and because diabetes affects their nerves, they don’t always feel injuries. Due to changes in blood vessel health, it can be very hard for sores to heal, which can lead to complications such as infection. Unfortunately, if the leg won’t heal, at a certain point amputation becomes necessary.
Taking every step to prevent sores in the first place, and to help them heal when they are tiny, is by far the best course of action for diabetics. It’s important to visually inspect the feet daily for redness, blisters, sores or other changes.
Wearing well-fitting shoes and comfortable socks indoors and out is an easy way for diabetics to protect their feet.
Get Help When Needed
While these steps may sound simple, they aren’t always easy for seniors to accomplish, for a number of reasons. One smart thing diabetic seniors can do to stay healthy is to ask for help when they need it. For example, by hiring an elderly care aide to assist with the challenging areas, seniors can minimize complications of diabetes and enjoy the best possible health over the long term.
Elderly care aides can help support diabetic health in many ways.
They can help prepare nutritious meals, or help with grocery shopping to ensure healthy food options are readily available.
Elderly care aides can support regular exercise in a variety of forms, from driving a senior to the gym, pool or exercise class to accompanying them for a daily walk.
Likewise, elderly care aides can drive seniors to preventative health appointments, and support them throughout the process. From getting ready to go, assistance in and out of the car, and offering a helping hand in the restroom if needed, elderly care aides can turn “another stressful appointment” into a manageable ‒ and even enjoyable ‒ experience.
Elderly care aides can help seniors who can’t reach or see their feet inspect them daily. Most seniors choose to pair this service with a related one, such as a daily foot soak and lotion, for example. It also works well to accomplish this check during dressing or routine bathing assistance.
With the proper help, the challenges of aging don’t have to get the best of diabetic seniors. With care and support, seniors can take steps to minimize complications of diabetes and enjoy a happy, healthy and independent lifestyle.
Source: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/diabetes-older-people
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Elderly Care Services in Thomaston GA please contact the caring staff at Angels of Mercy Private Homecare Services, Inc. today at 478-745-5111.
Angels of Mercy Private Homecare has been providing in-home care services since 2002 throughout the Macon and Middle Georgia Area.
Angels of Mercy Private Homecare Services provides in-home care that improves the lives of the clients. Our services help them maintain the highest possible level of independent living. We provide In-home private duty care and care management services for seniors throughout the Middle Georgia area.
Our CNA (certified nursing aides), caregiver, and companion services allow our clients to age in the place where they feel most comfortable and secure - at home. Combine our Home Care Services, with our Geriatric Care Management component, and we provide the most comprehensive assistance for the Middle Georgia areas seniors.
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