If your loved one has been diagnosed with prediabetes, it means that her blood sugar levels aren’t high enough yet for her to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, but they are elevated, putting her at high risk for Type 2 Diabetes. It is usually discovered through a routine fasting blood check and while it can be a scary diagnosis, not everyone who has prediabetes progresses to having Type 2 diabetes and your loved one can take steps to get her blood sugar levels back to a normal level. Home Care Assistance can help.
Prediabetes Risk Factors
Risk factors for prediabetes are similar to those for Type 2 Diabetes.
- Being overweight
- Having a lot of extra weight around the waist.
- Eating a lot of red meat and/or processed meat.
- Drinking a lot of sugar-based sodas and beverages
- Being inactive
- Having sleep apnea or any condition that interrupts sleep often
- Being a smoker
Prediabetes Symptoms
Prediabetes generally doesn’t have any symptoms. One possible sign that your loved one can watch for is darkened skin. Those with prediabetes sometimes get areas of the skin that begin to darken around the armpits, neck, and groin areas.
If prediabetes has progressed to diabetes, your loved one might notice these symptoms.
- Fatigue
- Sores that heal slowly
- Unintentional weight loss
- Increased thirst
- Blurred vision
- Numb or Tingly hands and Feet
- Urinating more often
- Increased hunger
- Dry Skin
Taking Steps to Reduce the Risk of Prediabetes Becoming Type 2 Diabetes
Your loved one can start taking steps immediately to get her blood sugar levels back to a safe level but it can take commitment to certain lifestyle changes and those changes can be difficult to implement, especially if your loved one lives alone and doesn’t have a support system. A home care assistance team can step in and help your loved one implement some doctor-recommended lifestyle changes if your loved one needs a bit of help.
Some ways a home care assistance provider can support your loved one:
Helping Her Choose Better Foods for Better Health
Your loved one may not even know where to start when it comes to switching to a more healthy diet. A home care assistance provider can help her by taking her shopping for fresh and wholesome foods and then helping her prepare meals that are good for her health. With assistance from a home care assistance provider, your loved one is more likely to make significant and long-lasting changes to her diet that will improve her blood sugar levels.
Encouraging Active Living
Staying active and getting regular exercise is an important part of maintaining a healthy weight and reducing the risk of Type 2 Diabetes. A home care assistance team can help your loved one get to the places she needs to go to participate in physical activity whether it’s a local park with great walking paths or a senior center that offers exercise classes geared toward seniors.
Medication Management
If your loved one has been prescribed medications to help her manage her blood pressure or cholesterol, keeping on top of those medications is important for her to manage her blood sugar levels and reduce her risk of Type 2 diabetes. A home care assistance team can help her manage her medication by reminding her to take her medication as well as assisting her in staying on top of her refill schedule.