Diabetic Care at home for Seniors in New Jersey, (NJ). Our caregivers can assist you and your senior loved one with diabetic care at home and help with issues with hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.
What is Diabetes?
The pancreas is a gland that produces insulin, a hormone that controls blood sugar. When the pancreas creates too little insulin, your body is resistance to insulin, or both, you may develop diabetes.
There are two main types of diabetes:
Type 1 develops when the pancreas produces little or no insulin.
Type 2 usually occurs in adulthood, but is now being diagnosed in teens and young adults because of increased obesity.
Gestational diabetes sometimes develops during pregnancy in non-diabetic women.
Managing Diabetes at Home
Managing Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes is a constant challenge, even more so for seniors who may have lost some manual dexterity, have memory problems or suffer from nerve damage.
In-home healthcare may be the best option for some families; however, if you are caring for a loved one with diabetes you should be aware of the following potential issues.
Blood Glucose
Blood Glucose testing is the primary tool for a person with diabetes to manage their disease. Today’s glucose meters tend to be small and can be difficult to handle for persons with limited movement in the hands and fingers.
Anyone can easily learn how to operate a glucose meter; it involves a simple finger prick for a blood sample and –for most meters—just five seconds to read the result. Most diabetics are instructed to test their blood sugar 3-4 times a day.
The result of the blood glucose test will determine what the next dose of insulin or other medication should be. You’ll need to not only learn how to use the meter, but also keep a document handy on how to adjust medications based on these test results.
Seniors who have memory problems will need close monitoring to ensure that tests are conducted on schedule and that medications are accurately dispensed.
Hypoglycemia
If your loved one exhibits odd behaviors, it may be because of Low Blood Sugar.
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) reactions can cause slurred speech, dizziness and anxiety; a person experiencing hypoglycemia can appear to be drunk.
If you see this kind of behavior you will want to test your loved one’s blood sugar immediately!
Finally, persons with diabetes are prone to develop sores that won’t heal, especially on their feet. If the person has diminished sensation due to nerve damage, a small cut or blister can become gangrenous surprisingly quickly, often leading to amputations. Be sure to check the person’s feet regularly; at least every 3-4 days.
How our caregivers help with Diabetes care at Home
Amorycare caregivers can work with seniors and family caregivers to develop a specially geared home health care program that focuses on diabetes management. Here are some ways we can help:
Manage Neuropothy
Our caregivers in New Jersey focus on reducing current symptoms and preventing the condition from getting worse by keeping blood sugar level and within your target range.
On a daily basis, our caregivers can prompt your senior family member to check blood sugar levels. Additionally, we ensure insulin or oral diabetes medicine is taken as prescribed.
Monitoring Wounds and Infections
Diabetic neuropathy commonly causes a loss of feeling, especially in one’s feet.
Our professional caretakers assist with foot care, as we know all to well that it is possible for a sore or foot problem to go unnoticed.
Serious infection or possibly amputation is usually the end result of an untreated sore cause by diabetes-related complications.
Manage Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Patients with diabetes are at a greatly increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We help to reduce cardiovascular risk by addressing blood pressure and lipid control, smoking prevention and cessation, weight management, physical activity, and healthy lifestyle choices.
More Ways Our Caregivers can Help with Diabetic Care at home
Prepare Appropriate food based on the recommendations of your family member's doctor or diabetes educator.
Help schedule doctor appointments and transport your loved one to and from those appointments
Meal Preparation
Grocery Shopping
Getting Started with Diabetes Care in New Jersey, (NJ)
Caring for seniors with diabetes is a 24-hour-a-day job that can become difficult for a family member to take on. Our caregivers can assist you and your senior loved one with diabetic care at home and help with issues with hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.
If you have questions or would like to learn more about our diabetic home care options in New Jersey (NJ) or Contact us today.
Amorycare provides Home Care for Seniors and Aging adults who have Diabetes in these towns in New Jersey, (NJ):
Union County: Fanwood, Elizabeth, Summit, Berkeley Heights, Linden, Springfield, Vauxhall, Clark, Cranford, Garwood, Scotch Plains, Murray Hill, Union, Winfield, Mountainside, Westfield, Kenilworth, New Providence, Plainfield and Roselle, NJ.
Essex County: Livingston, Roseland, Essex Fells, West Orange, South Orange Short Hills, Millburn, Maplewood, Montclair, Verona, Cedar Grove, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, Belleville, Nutley, West Caldwell, Fairfield, Irvington, Newark, East Orange
Morris County: Bernardsville, Boonton, Brookside, Budd lake, Butler, Califon, Cedar Knolls, Chatham, Chester, Denville, Dover, East Hanover, Far Hills, Flanders, Florham Park, Gillette, Greenvillage, Hibernia, lronia, Kenvil, Lake Hopatcong, Landing, Ledgewood, Uncoln Park, Long Valley, Madison, Mendham, Millington, Montville, Morris Plains, Morristown, Mt. Arlington, Mt. Freedom, Mt. Tabor, Mountain Lakes, Netcong, New Vernon, Newfoundland, Oak Ridge, Parsippany, Pequannock, Piccatinny Arsenal, Pine Brook, Pompton Plains, Port Murray, Randolph, Riverdale, Rockaway, Schooley’s Mountain, Stirling, Succasuna, Towaco, Wharton, Whippany
