It’s not easy to take care of an older adult who has diabetes. There are so many parts to ensuring treatment is effective and blood sugar levels stay under control. And, just when you think you’ve figured it all out and you’re doing just the right things for your elderly parent, you might be surprised to find out you’re making a mistake that could be sabotaging all the hard work you’ve put toward their diabetes care.
Below are some common mistakes that people make in managing diabetes care for an older adult.
Serving “Sugar Free” Foods
It seems like purchasing foods labeled as “sugar free” would be a good move when managing diabetes, right? Unfortunately, that’s not always true. Lots of foods that say they are sugar free contain carb-heavy ingredients that replace the sugar. Carbs, as you may know, can cause blood sugar to rise. That doesn’t mean that everything with “sugar free” on the label is bad. To find out which ones fit into your aging relative’s eating plan, read the ingredient label and nutritional facts.
Testing Blood Sugar Too Seldom
If your aging relative was recently diagnosed with diabetes, they may need to test their blood sugar more often so they can get a feel for how certain foods and exercise affect their blood sugar levels. Tracking blood sugar levels can also help doctors to determine if the treatment plan needs to be adjusted. Some people who have been living with diabetes for a while may also fail to test blood sugar often enough because they become too comfortable with their treatment plan and think they know how their actions impact them. However, it’s important to keep following the treatment plan, including testing, because things can change as the person ages.
Eating Meal Replacement Bars
You may know that reaching and maintaining a healthy weight can help keep blood sugar levels under control. To do that, some people eat meal replacement bars instead of a full meal. Unfortunately, lots of meal replacement bars on the market are designed for athletes, so they are not necessarily low-calorie. They may also contain a lot of sugar.
Elder care can help seniors to avoid making some of these mistakes. An elder care provider can make healthy meals for the older adult that are low in calories so that there is no need to reach for a meal replacement bar. Elder care providers can also remind seniors to check their blood sugar levels and record them.
Sources: https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/diabetes-habits-to-quit#1
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/spotlights/diabetes-mistakes.html
https://www.everydayhealth.com/type-2-diabetes/living-with/top-diabetes-exercise-mistakes-how-avoid-them/