Help your aging loved one manage diabetes

While managing diabetes can be a challenge for older Canadians, here are some tips you can use to help your aging loved one live well with diabetes.

Has your loved one been living with diabetes for years or is this a new diagnosis? Your role will largely depend on the response to this question. If your parent has been managing his/her own diabetes for the past 10 years, you may simply have to look on as an observer and wait for any age-related changes that may indicate your loved one's self-care abilities have lapsed. Seniors who have just received this life-altering news, meanwhile, may require more hand-holding to process the diagnosis as well as to learn how to manage it.

The best way to determine what your loved one needs from you? Ask. By keeping the lines of communication open, you can ensure that your loved one is getting the necessary care without fear of overstepping your bounds. Delegating some responsibilities while maintaining others also helps seniors hold onto a critical sense of independence and self worth.

A diabetes diagnosis is difficult at any age, but it can be particularly overwhelming for an older patient who may be experiencing cognitive difficulties or other health issues. Be patient if your loved one is having difficulties adjusting to life with this chronic disease; while in some cases resistance can be attributed to stubbornness, in others it may simply be a lack of understanding or ability.

On the flip side, if your loved one has successfully managed his/her own diabetes self-care for years, refrain from trying to change or overhaul a system that's already in place. Just because it's not the way you would do it doesn't mean it's not an effective means of management. Safety, of course, is the priority, so any indications that your loved one's health may be in jeopardy may require your intervention.

There are several warning signs that can help you identify a dangerous situation for your aging loved one with diabetes. Keep an eye out for changes in personality as this can indicate that blood sugar levels are out of whack. Other things to look for include: frequent urination, extreme thirst or hunger, blurry vision, nausea, sweating, shaking, fatigue, dizziness or a quick heartbeat. If you notice any of these changes, contact your loved one's physician immediately.

You can also help prevent diabetic emergencies by encouraging healthy dietary choices. If your loved one is at risk of diabetes, meanwhile, weight loss is an important preventative measure: more than 60 per cent of Canadians with diabetes are overweight.

By encouraging your aging loved one to perform essential self-care measures and by offering whatever kind of help best serves your parent's individual needs, you can help him/her enjoy a fulfilling quality of life with diabetes.