Tips That Can Help Seniors With Diabetes Regulate Their Blood Sugar

If your mom or dad struggles to manage their diabetes elder care at home can help. An elder care provider can be at home with your mom or dad all day to make sure they eat, help them check their blood sugar, and encourage your mom or dad to be as active as possible.

An elder care provider can also help your mom or dad plan healthy meals, look up resources on diabetes in seniors, and help them shop for healthy foods to keep in the house. Learning to manage their blood sugar can be very difficult for seniors, especially seniors who have mobility challenges that make exercise impossible.

Some tips that may help your mom or dad regulate their blood sugar and avoid sugar spikes and crashes are:

Eat a Balanced Diet

Eating a healthy and balanced diet is the most important thing your mom or dad can do manage their blood sugar.

Foods that are high in fiber, like vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, help control blood sugar because they slow down how fast sugar enters the bloodstream. Encourage your parent to eat smaller portions and focus on meals with lean proteins, healthy fats, and a variety of colorful vegetables.

Move More

Exercise is a part of stabilizing blood sugar, so it can be tough for seniors who can’t exercise to manage their blood sugar. But any movement is better than no movement. Encourage your mom or dad to do stretches, chair exercises, or even just to get up and walk around the house periodically.

An elder care provider can encourage your mom or dad to move more by playing games with them like balloon volleyball or bean bag toss.

Monitor Blood Sugar Levels

Checking blood sugar regularly is one of the best ways for your mom or dad to see how food, exercise, and medications are affecting their blood sugar levels.

Your parent can use a blood glucose meter, which measures how much sugar is in their blood at different times of the day. By testing at regular intervals, they can see how their blood sugar changes after meals, exercise, or medication. Keeping track of these numbers can help your parent make decisions about food, exercise, and insulin doses.

Take Medications as Prescribed

Sometimes, people with diabetes need medication to help control their blood sugar. These can include oral medications or insulin injections. It is important for your parent to take their medications exactly as prescribed by their doctor. Missing doses or taking the wrong amount can cause their blood sugar to become too high or too low. If your parent has any concerns or experiences side effects, they should speak to their doctor so they can adjust the medication.

Manage Stress

Stress can cause blood sugar levels to rise, so managing stress is important for controlling diabetes. Encourage your parent to take time each day to relax and unwind. Activities like deep breathing exercises, meditation, or gentle stretching can help reduce stress. Spending time with family and friends or engaging in hobbies can also be great ways to relieve stress and improve overall well-being.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Elder Care in Belgrade, MN, please contact the caring staff at Alternative Senior Care today.
Providing Home Care in Central Minnesota and Surrounding Communities. Call us today at (320) 352-3350