In your role as a family caregiver, awareness is one of the greatest tools that you can use. This enables you to know the types of risks and challenges that your parent might face, and what you can do to reduce these risks, protect your parent’s health and well-being, and manage the conditions that do develop during their later years.
March 28 is American Diabetes Association Alert Day. This is the ideal opportunity for you to learn more about diabetes, its risks, and how you can give your elderly loved one the right level of care as they manage their risks or live with this condition as they age in place.
Some things that you should know about diabetes include:
- More than 29 million people throughout the United States are suffering from diabetes
- This number accounts for more than 9 percent of the total population
- Of these, approximately 1.25 million people are suffering from type 1 diabetes
- Experts estimate that more than 8 million people with the disease have not been diagnosed, putting them at increased risk of serious complications associated with the disease
- Around 12 million adults throughout the United States aged 65 years and older are suffering from diabetes
- This number accounts for around 26 percent of the elderly population of the nation
- Approximately 1.4 million people are diagnosed with diabetes in the country each year
- Around 86 million people throughout the country are suffering from a condition known as prediabetes, which means that their blood sugar is at a level that is elevated but not yet at the point of diabetes diagnosis
- Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death throughout the United States
- More than 69,000 death certificates each year have diabetes listed as the underlying cause of death
- More than 234,000 additional death certificates each year have diabetes listed as one of the underlying cause of death
If your aging parent has recently been diagnosed with diabetes or you are concerned that they are at greater risk of developing this condition, now may be the ideal time for you to consider starting home care for them. An in-home care provider can make a tremendous difference not just in your parent’s health and well-being, but also their quality of life and their ability to enjoy a more engaged, fulfilling, safe, and healthy lifestyle as they age in place. When it comes to helping them deal with diabetes, this care provider can help your parent understand the guidelines and instructions that were given to them by their doctor and to comply with these in the course of their regular care routine. This means taking any medications and following through with any treatments when and how they are meant to be taken, as well as sticking to guidelines and restrictions in their daily lifestyle choices. As a family caregiver this can give you a tremendous sense of relief knowing that your parent is getting everything that they need when you are able to be with them and when you are not.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional caregiver services in Berkeley, CA, call the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care. Call today: (415) 795-2203
Sources:
http://www.diabetes.org/are-you-at-risk/alert-day/
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/basics/definition/con-20033091
http://www.diabetes.org/?referrer=https://www.google.com/
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