Diabetes is a serious health condition that affects many older Americans. It must be carefully controlled to avoid complications. Achieving good blood sugar control can be a challenge for older people who may have difficulty reading educational material due to visual deficits, some of which may have been caused by the diabetes or due to a lack of glasses appropriate for their needs. Elderly people with diabetes may benefit from a visiting nurse who will help them with education as well as assessing their needs on a regular basis, the National Center for Biotechnology Information indicates.
Step 1
Ask questions. Elderly people may not want to admit to difficulties seeing or understanding the information from their doctors. Talk with the elderly person’s doctor and make sure he has a visiting nurse who will help guide the patient along the path of understanding the complications of diabetes. Make sure the patient's glucometer or blood sugar monitoring device works and has functioning supplies such as lancets, an adequate lancet pen and blood sample test strips, the National Center for Biotechnology Information recommends.
Step 2
Contact the elderly support organization in the patient's area and find out what it has to offer. An elderly person with diabetes who has no family members nearby to help her should have someone available to call if she needs something such as, for example, a new medication from the pharmacy. Organizations created to assist the elderly often provide volunteers to run errands, the National Center for Biotechnology Information indicates.
Step 3
Offer information concerning lifeline services to elderly persons. Such services, available in many areas, can provide a direct button press line for emergency help. This will help the person to feel more independent should he have an emergency with no one available to help him, the National Center for Biotechnology Information indicates.
Step 4
Bring the elderly diabetic person to the doctor if you can. Ask what services this person may have available to him to give support to help him live with the diabetes diagnosis, the National Center for Biotechnology Information suggests.
Step 5
Read aloud for the patient any information needed for treatment of the disease if the person cannot see or understand it properly. Set up his insulin and syringes as well as his glucometer in one area. Instruct him on diet and exercise, and encourage him to follow through on his needs. Support him in becoming successful in monitoring his blood sugar levels and keeping them under control, the National Center for Biotechnology Information suggests.
Things You'll Need
- Glucometer
- Insulin
- Educational materials with large letters
- Doctor’s phone numbers and information
- Diabetic diet information
