Supporting You & Your Family
Home Caring can offer you the best in support. Our caregivers will be there in an emotionally caring capacity as well as a physically caring capacity, from conversations and companionship to meal preparation that supports your new dietary needs. Nutritionists and doctors will set out a meal plan that is catered to you, whether this is low sodium, low cholesterol, low fat, vegetarian or vegan, and our caregivers will ensure that you are meeting that plan.
Not only that, we will be able to offer support to your family to help you to manage your diabetes care, helping you to administer medication and promote physical activity to ensure you are in the best health that you can be.
About Diabetes
Whether you are born with it or diagnosed with it in later life, diabetes is a condition which can have a profound impact on your life. It’s a common condition that can cause your blood sugar to levels to become too high and unstable. Many people have their blood sugar levels above the normal ranges, but there are stages before it can be diagnosed as diabetes. This is known as prediabetes, and in some cases, diabetes can be reversed before it sets in. Let’s look at the two types of diabetes:
Type 1
This is known mostly as juvenile diabetes, because it’s commonly diagnosed before the age of 40 and in some cases, in childhood. If you are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, you will need to inject insulin and measure your insulin levels for the rest of your life.
Type 2
Mostly, Type 2 is the most common type of diabetes out there. More often than not, adults with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes, not Type 1. It’s often associated with obesity and is more common in older people and related to lifestyle issues rather than something uncontrollable. A healthy diet, exercise and continuous monitoring of blood glucose levels are necessary to keep it under control.
Diabetes Symptoms
One of the main red flags for diabetes is extreme thirst. In Type 1, it’s extreme thirst in children that make parents concerned. Other symptoms include:
- Excessive tiredness
- Weight loss
- Loss of muscle tone
- Blurred vision
- Frequent urination
- Cut that heal slowly
- Genital itching/thrush
All of these symptoms are caused by a plummet in insulin levels, which also show a lack of energy in the body. We require glucose to give us the strength that we need in our day to day living. Insulin moves the glucose that we need, and we get this from food. It goes out of the bloodstream and directly into the cells where it is then broken down into energy that we then use. In a person with diabetes, their body cannot break down those glucose cells into energy. The pancreas is supposed to produce insulin, but in Type 1, it doesn’t produce it at all. In Type 2, it does produce insulin, but not enough or the insulin that is produced doesn’t do the job properly.
If diabetes is left without treatment, it can cause serious consequences. These can include:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Dental issues
- Nerve damage
- Blindness
Getting the diagnosis of diabetes early can help you to implement the right care to manage the risks and reduce the impact that the symptoms can cause.
How Home Caring Can Help
Currently, there is no cure for diabetes. It can be managed, though, with medication and a change in diet and exercise. One of the most significant impacts on diabetes comes from weight management. Managing and maintaining a healthy weight can improve the outcomes for those managing such a condition. There isn’t a particular diet that works for diabetes, but a healthier diet in general with calories that are managed well.
Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meat are always best in moderation as opposed to an intake of fatty, sugary foods. Exercise needs to be encouraged, too, as it can help to lower blood sugar levels and increase the way the body responds to insulin. With 30 minutes of exercise every day, diabetes symptoms can be controlled with the insulin managed.
Medications are always going to be a part of life for those with diabetes, and blood sugar levels should be handled correctly for comfort. Depending on the type of diabetes, blood sugar monitoring should happen either several times a day or several times a week. This is where Home Caring can come in, to support and manage the medications and blood sugar monitoring of diabetes patients. Diabetes care is not a joke, and it should never be left to be let go. Here are some of the many ways that Home Caring can assist:
Blood Sugar Monitoring
Living with diabetes is overwhelming, but if you can get the right diabetes care in the home, you will be able to stay on top of your condition. Regular blood sugar testing can help to gauge the response to specific food as well as identify where the rise and fall of blood sugar levels can happen. Our talented and professional carers can assist you or your loved one with their blood sugar monitoring, reading and recording your blood levels regularly and making you as comfortable as possible while they do so. They can also ensure that you get the correct care if the levels change too dramatically.
Nutrition Assistance
Sometimes, a little help with a healthy diet can be everything. Managing a diet with the help of a home carer can ensure that your weight remains stable and your blood sugars do so. At Home Caring, our support staff can help you with your shopping list and take you to the store to choose the items that are designed to help support your body and your diabetes. Our carers are trained in nutrition, with the right skills to monitor and record your weight for your doctor’s updates. We can monitor your food and fluid intake so that you can be sure you’re hydrated and nourished.
Exercise
As part of our care services, we can help get you to the gym or exercise classes or accompany you on a walk to get your 30 minutes per day, gently increasing your daily amount to help your condition remain stable.
Diabetic Foot Care
Most diabetics who are undiagnosed don’t realise that foot problems are an enormous deal. Diabetes can cause damage to the nerves in the feet, which is why daily foot checks are a part of our care. With Home Caring, we ensure that all of our carers are trained in what to look for to identify any potential issues that could lead to long term damage, such as cuts and ingrown nails. Our carers can inspect the feet daily, ensuring no damage has developed.
Attending Appointments
An essential part of your diabetic treatment is regular appointments, and our professional experts can be there with you to ensure that you get the support that you need. Your reviews will check your levels and inspect your feet as well as keep an eye on your food and exercise.
Contact Us Today
So, if you need some help with your diabetes care, or you have a loved one needing our support in the home, give us a call on 1300-875-377.
