If your loved one has recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you are probably well versed in all of the health problems diabetes can create if not managed well. While type 2 diabetes increases the risk of many dangerous physical health conditions, it can also damage a person’s mental health.
Mental Health Issues That Diabetes May Bring On
Anxiety
There’s a lot to learn and perhaps a lot of changes that need to be made to your loved one’s lifestyle. He might feel anxious that he can’t remember it all and those feelings may overtake his daily thoughts.
Overwhelming Feelings of Shame
Unfortunately, type 2 diabetes can bring judgment from others who think people deserve the diagnosis for one reason or another. Your loved one might not want to share his diagnosis with others and feel the stress and burden of carrying this secret.
Depression
Any chronic disease diagnosis is difficult to embrace. Without proper support and encouragement, your loved one may find himself falling into a depression and withdrawing from everything that used to bring him joy.
Isolation
Your loved one may feel like he shouldn’t attend gatherings where food is the focus because of fears that he’ll eat the wrong thing or have others judge what he’s eating. That fear may cause him to turn down important social events and lead him to feel isolated and disconnected from family and friends.
Three Tips for Helping Your Senior Mentally Cope with a Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis
1. Get all the Facts
Once your loved one’s doctor has made the diagnosis, make sure to have someone visit with your loved one at all doctor visits. It can help to have a second pair of ears to listen to dietary instructions, medication management, and any recommended lifestyle adjustments. You can also ask the doctor for reliable resources to seek out and learn more.
2. Don’t Judge
The last thing your loved one needs to hear is a lecture about how he could have avoided this or a scolding for bad choices. Judgment often builds resentment and will make it even more difficult for your loved one to make changes with a good attitude and move forward in better health.
3. Offer Support
Making changes can be hard, especially if left to do it on his own. If the doctor has recommended certain items be limited in his diet, don’t eat them in front of him. If he should start exercising, offer to join him if possible to provide companionship and encouragement. Having a good support network is a big key to success for many diabetes patients.
Senior Home Care Providers Can Help Implement New Lifestyle Changes
Helping your loved one make lifestyle changes to improve their health can be overwhelming, not only for your senior but for you as his caregiver. You might wonder how you’ll step in and help him eat properly, get the exercise he needs, and take his medication.
A senior home care provider can fill in the gaps where you need help. Your loved one can plan meals and go shopping with his senior home care provider so that what he has at home is healthy and the right foods for keeping his blood sugar levels where they should be. A senior home care provider can also assist with medication management. A senior home care provider can be a great team member for your loved one, helping him live his best life.