Helping someone who has diabetes can be a very easy task if his condition is not severe. However, managing a diabetic is a task you can’t expect to be a snap. Diabetes is a condition that often can affect an individual for a lifetime. Your goal in helping someone with diabetes should be to reduce his symptoms and minimize the risk of developing complications related to his condition.
Step 1
Confirm that your friend keeps accurate records of her blood glucose test results. This information is important for doctors who are treating your friend. Most diabetics rarely need help in managing their condition, but young and elderly people may sometimes forget to write these test results down and may benefit from your help. Occasionally, checking your friend or relative's records is a quick and easy way to help her.
Step 2
Ensure your loved one always has extra testing supplies available. Knowing current blood glucose levels is one of the most important things in managing diabetes, so having the necessary tools for testing is vital. Don’t be overbearing by always bringing testing supplies up in a conversation. This may make your friend overly aware of his condition. Casually checking when new testing strips were last acquired, for example, is a great way to make sure your friend can test his glucose at any time.
Step 3
Make sure your loved one eats according to her set diet. This is especially important if the person you are taking care of is your child, who is dependent on you feeding her. If you cook or shop for your loved one, it is up to you to make sure what you buy and prepare fits into the diet of your loved one. If this is not the case, do go out of your way to make sure your friend eats well. Simple actions, such as reserving special foods for a day at the beach, are often all that is needed. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, diabetics often need to eat around the same time each day and stick to similar types of food. Try to take steps to ensure your friend can meet her needs when it comes to her food by knowing what and when she will eat.
Step 4
Guarantee that your friend engages in regular physical activity that follows the plan created for him by a doctor. According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise is often prescribed to diabetics because it causes blood sugar to be transported into cells and used. One of the best ways of making sure a diabetic sticks to his plan is by making exercise fun. Try to find an activity he enjoys doing. Consider following his plan with him. Shared exercise can be more enjoyable than doing it alone, and it benefits you as well as your friend. Moreover, partaking in your friend’s exercise plan allows you to spend valuable time with him, as well as make sure he remembers to monitor his glucose levels both before and after exercise.
Tips and Warnings
- Try to keep a snack handy. If your friend’s glucose drops too low, it may help prevent her from going into hypoglycemia.
- A diabetic can sometimes have low blood sugar, which may lead to hypoglycemia or even insulin shock. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, giving your loved one some food is a good way to start helping her, but if she doesn’t improve shortly, call your local emergency contact number or 911 for help.
