Elderly Care: Symptoms of Diabetes and What Happens When a Senior Ignores Them


Elderly Care: As your parent or loved one ages, their bodies naturally resist insulin.

They may not move enough, causing weight gain, or have a family history of diabetes. This all puts someone at a much higher risk of getting type two diabetes, and this generally impacts older adults the most, but in some cases, it can affect kids. Diabetes can be a serious disease to focus on and can have dire effects if ignored. Elderly Care service providers can be a huge help to you with diabetes care management.

Companion care at home can help a senior manage their diabetes by encouraging healthy habits.

They can help meal prep well-rounded and tasty meals that ensure a senior’s blood sugar remains even and stable throughout the day. Companion care at home can also help seniors stay more mobile and independent, which can help them manage a healthy weight. All of this plays a key role in living with diabetes.

The one thing that companion care at home may not be able to do is administer medicine. If a senior needs help to prick their fingers to check blood sugar or anything similar, they will need a nurse or a doctor’s care. Some seniors will be able to do these tasks on their own but need help managing a schedule and doing other basic things around the home like cooking and cleaning or having a routine. This is where companion care at home exceeds and can offer the ultimate help.


What Happens if You Ignore Diabetes?

Seniors may want to ignore these problems that they’ve never had before, but the truth is your blood sugar helps cells, and vital organs work. Ignoring diabetes means ignoring insulin and blood sugar levels. This can lead to kidney damage, eye damage, and heart disease. In some very severe cases, people may lose their limbs from ignoring diabetes. The best thing to do is to go to a doctor and regularly get checked out. Elderly Care can help encourage doctors visits and help the seniors get to and from appointments. It is crucial to never ignore the symptoms or diagnoses of diabetes.


Symptoms of Diabetes

There are three types of diabetes but many older adults are at risk of type two diabetes. It is important to know which type of diabetes someone is diagnosed with but the doctor will help a senior understand what kind and why they may have gotten it. Here are some symptoms of type two diabetes companion care at home can watch out for if the senior has not yet been diagnosed.

  • Increased thirst for days
  • Frequent urination
  • Increased hunger
  • Unintended weight loss
  • Fatigue or tiredness
  • Blurred vision
  • Slow-healing wounds
  • Frequent infections
  • Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
  • Areas of darkened skin, usually in the armpits and neck

If a senior starts experiencing these and it has not been something they have ever done before, it is time to go to a doctor. Elderly care at home can help write down the symptoms they are seeing and give them to the doctor.

If you or an aging loved-one is considering hiring Elderly Care in Loveland, CO, please contact the caring staff at Touching Hearts at Home today at 303-255-4071.

Sources:

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/diabetes-older-people

https://www.unitypoint.org/livewell/article

You may also like:

Senior Home Care in Lafayette
02.10.2023

Flying Tips for Seniors

Flying can be a nightmare for everyone, but it's especially difficult for seniors. Try these tips from Senior Home Care…

Read More
Senior Home Care in Thornton
12.22.2022

Normal Brain Aging

What does normal brain aging look like? Senior Home Care in Thornton, CO can help your loved one as they…

Read More