Diabetes is a condition caused by a lack of insulin production and/or resistance to insulin. Insulin works to take sugar (in the form of glucose) out of the blood and puts it into the liver, fat cells and muscle cells, where it can be used. Diabetic patients, as a result, have abnormally high levels of sugar in their blood, which can lead to a number of complications, including nerve damage and poor circulation.
Step 1
Monitor the patient's blood sugar several times a day (especially after meals), which not only allows you to make sure the patient's diabetes is under control, but also guards against hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) before it becomes life-threatening.
Step 2
Create a healthy diet for the diabetic. According to the Mayo Clinic, part of diabetes control involves maintaining a careful diet. Try to avoid large meals and foods with lots of sugar or carbohydrates. Use an "exchange" chart (which groups food into categories such as protein, fats and sugars) to help you plan out the diet.
Step 3
Make sure the patient receives medications regularly. If she receives insulin shots, follow a regular schedule of giving them to her (being sure to monitor blood sugar and adjusting the injection times as necessary). Otherwise, make sure she receives any oral medications every day to prevent high blood sugar and other complications.
Step 4
Check the patient daily for complications related to diabetes. This includes monitoring blood pressure daily, as well as regular cholesterol testing. You should also check the patient's skin (especially her toes) every day to look for any sores or cuts, as diabetes can cause poor circulation, possibly leading to injuries (especially to the feet and other extremities) that can become infected and gangrenous. You should also check the patient's vision daily for diabetes-related blindness. Check to see if there are any areas of blindness, making sure that the patient gets regular vision checks by an ophthalmologist.
