Diabetes can be a highly challenging chronic disease to handle. If you have a diabetic loved one, it is normal for you to feel anxious about their health condition and overall well-being. Here are 11 ways you can support your loved one so they can efficiently manage their diabetes.
Educate Yourself
The first step to helping your loved one is by educating yourself about diabetes. Take time to learn and understand the different terminologies, read various books, listen to distinguished experts, check blogs, engage in social media groups, and join events or educational classes designed for diabetes management. Exhaust all available information resources that can help improve your knowledge about this demanding disease.
Recognize The Symptoms Of Low Blood Sugar
Low blood sugar is dangerous for diabetic patients. To efficiently care for your loved one, it is important you know the symptoms of low blood sugar so you can treat it immediately. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the common signs are hunger, dizziness, sweating, shaking, a fast heartbeat, irritability or confusion, and nervousness or anxiety.
For severe low blood sugar, or when your blood sugar is below 54 mg/dl, some symptoms include having seizures, feeling confused or acting strange, feeling weak, and having difficulty seeing clearly or walking. Make sure to watch out for these symptoms and religiously monitor your loved ones’ sugar by using a diabetes app.
Communicate With Your Loved One
No matter how eager you are to help your loved one, your efforts will be in vain if they don’t clearly understand your intentions. Communicate with your diabetic loved one about your desire to help them and ask them how you can help. Whether it’s driving them to essential errands, buying their medications, taking them out to destress, or preparing their meals, ensure you know what they expect from you. Avoid nagging and always be ready to listen.
Refrain From Micromanaging
Regardless of whether you’re the primary caregiver of your diabetic loved one, you must refrain from controlling their care. Respect your loved one’s boundaries and know when to step back. Even if you feel frustrated with some of their choices, you should always keep in mind that they’re the ones suffering from diabetes, so they get to decide how they want to handle their health condition.
Change Your Lifestyle Together
For diabetic individuals, it is easier to change their lifestyles if a trusted loved one is with them on their journey. Instead of constantly informing your diabetic loved one of the various benefits of a healthy lifestyle, it would be more effective if you practiced what you preach.
A diabetic diagnosis is also an opportunity for everyone in your household to live a healthy lifestyle. Prepare nutritious meals together as a family and try new diabetes-friendly recipes. Participate in group workouts and be each other’s accountability buddy.
Show Encouragement
Providing constant encouragement to your diabetic loved one can significantly impact their health journey. Rather than pointing out their wrong decisions or things they could have done better, highlight their wins, no matter how small they may seem.
Remind them of their progress and how far they have come since they were diagnosed. Be their cheerleader when they get frustrated with themselves and remind them how strong they are. Your loved one needs continuous support and encouragement, especially on their low days, so always be ready to be their go-to person.
Be patient
Blood sugar changes can trigger mood swings in your diabetic loved one. They are more prone to depression and emotional breakdowns, especially if they’ve been battling diabetes for a long time. Some also experience diabetes burnout, making them more challenging to take care of.
As their caregiver or trusted loved one, it’s imperative that you remain patient and level-headed at all times. Remember that they are experiencing a lot of ups and downs right now, so they need someone to be their rock amidst the chaos.
Accompany Them To Their Doctor Appointments
Another way to demonstrate support to your loved one is by offering to accompany them to see their doctor. In addition to being their solid support system, you can also gain more perspective about your loved one’s health condition directly from their doctor and healthcare team.
During these appointments, ask relevant questions to your loved one’s doctors and clarify concerns that might have been bothering or confusing you. Remember to be respectful when communicating with healthcare professionals, and show them how you genuinely appreciate their professional guidance.
Help Manage Stress
Untreated stress can increase a diabetic person’s blood sugar level, making it more difficult to manage diabetes. Therefore, it is crucial that you and your loved one are aware of the latter’s stressors and actively find ways to reduce them.
Motivate them to practice relaxation techniques such as visualization, progressive muscle relaxation, aromatherapy, massage, meditation, deep breathing, music and art therapy, yoga, biofeedback, hydrotherapy, and Tai chi.
Ensure that your loved one gets sufficient quality sleep, engages in exercise, and eats well. Encourage them to connect with their trusted friends and relatives, even for a few hours a day. They can also join online and in-person support groups dedicated to diabetes management.
Stay Positive
Diabetes or any chronic disease can be scary, especially if it’s in its late stages. A diabetes diagnosis can cause silent mind battles, often leading to anxiety and depression. During these crucial times, you must remain positive for your loved one in words and actions.
Avoid sharing negative news or stories of diabetic patients with life-threatening complications, as it can cause unnecessary panic and stress to your loved one. Be mindful of your words and help them see the brighter side of things.
Take Care Of Yourself
Caring for a loved one with diabetes can take a toll on your own health and well-being. Remember to make time for yourself so you can focus on your needs. Practice self-care and find opportunities to destress and recharge. If at any point you feel burned out, reach out to a trusted relative, friend, or professional.
Endnote
While supporting a loved one with diabetes can be challenging, it is also a rewarding and meaningful experience. Remember these tips, and don’t hesitate to ask for professional guidance.
