Is Your Elderly Parent at Risk for Diabetes?

More than 29 million people throughout the United States are currently living with diabetes. Of these, more than 8 million of them have not been diagnosed. Not knowing that they have the condition can put them at more serious risk by not enabling them to get on the course of treatment and management that is right for them and their needs. As a family caregiver it is important that you are aware of the risk that your aging parent is facing so that you are able to give them the proper care to help them reduce their risk as well as stay vigilant to potentially detect the disease early so that you can help them to get the medical care that they need. This starts with understanding the risk factors that influence the chances that your parent will develop the disease. Some of the risk factors for diabetes include: • Being overweight or obese • Living a largely inactive or even sedentary lifestyle that does not permit their body to use enough glucose as energy • Family history of diabetes that includes a parent or sibling that has or had the disease • The older that your senior gets, the higher the risk that they will develop diabetes • Having a personal history of gestational diabetes during their pregnancies • Having a personal history of polycystic ovary syndrome • Having high blood pressure • Having elevated blood cholesterol levels If your senior has any of these risk factors and you are concerned about their health, do not hesitate to get in touch with their doctor to discuss their risk and what you can do to protect them from developing it as they age in place. They can also help you to devise a course of care tailored to improving their experience should they develop the condition later. If your aging parent has recently been diagnosed with diabetes, has been living with diabetes for some time but has been showing signs that they are having more difficulty managing their condition effectively, or is at increased risk of diabetes and you want to protect them from this condition, now may be the ideal time to consider starting elderly care for them. An elderly care provider can be a valuable source of support and encouragement to your loved one as they deal with their condition. This includes a highly personalized set of services designed to help your parent manage their diabetes as well as any other health conditions that they might have, while also addressing their personal needs, individuality, thoughts, opinions, and goals so that they can have the lifestyle that they desire and deserve. This can include helping them to identify their personal risks, support them in making lifestyle choices that will reduce this risk and help them to manage their disease effectively, and give valuable reminders that will help them to remain compliant with their prescriptions, treatments, and guidelines offered by their doctor. As a caregiver this can give you tremendous peace of mind knowing that they are getting the care that they need at all times, whether you are with them or not. Source http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/statistics/?referrer=https://www.google.com/ http://www.defeatdiabetes.org/april-is-defeat-diabetes-month/ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/basics/risk-factors/con-20033091
If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Palm Beach County, FL, contact the caring staff at BrightStar Care of Jupiter. Call today (561) 741-1200.