Elderly Loved Ones and Type 2 Diabetes

The thought of diabetes is frightening, particularly for families that haven’t yet dealt with this condition themselves. Seniors are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes for a variety of reasons, but it doesn’t have to mean that your loved one’s life must change in bad ways. With the help of elder care, your loved one may even find dealing with type 2 diabetes is not as difficult as previously feared.

Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes

Some of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes are pretty obvious. Frequent thirst and increased urination are the most common, but there are others that may present before the increase in either thirst or urination. Some symptoms to watch out for include:

• Lethargy or fatigue
• Weight fluctuations
• Blurry vision
• Numbness in extremities
• Frequent infections or sores that don’t heal

If elderly loved ones are complaining of some of these symptoms, it’s worth mentioning the situation to their doctor to have some tests run. Experienced in-home care providers may spot some of these symptoms and their correlations before your loved one makes the connections.

Risk Factors

Some of the warning signs that could let you know that type 2 diabetes might become a problem later include having a family history of the disease. Excess weight is also a potential indicator. Stress and periods of depression can also affect insulin levels adversely, which over time can lead to type 2 diabetes. These risk factors do not guarantee that an elderly loved one will definitely develop diabetes, but they can be good indicators.

Lifestyle Changes that Can Help

While medications and other medical treatments are something your elderly relative’s doctor may prescribe, there are other lifestyle changes that can make a significant difference. To start, losing even a few pounds can help. This is easier to do when elderly loved ones reduce the sugar in their diet and start to exercise even a little bit. Stress management techniques can also help if your elderly loved one has been stressed out or depressed. Enlist the help of home care providers to keep your loved one on the target plan.

Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition, but with the help of elder care providers and your loved one’s medical team, you can help her to live a full and healthy life.

If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in the Denver Metro Area, please call and speak to the caring staff at Talem Home Care. Call today at (720) 797-8548.

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