Common Diabetes Complications and How to Manage Them

Diabetes affects 37 million people in the United States. And among them, senior adults are the most vulnerable to developing complications.

As a chronic illness, diabetes carries a variety of comorbidities that can limit your loved one’s quality of life. You need to know what they are and what you can do to reduce your loved one’s risk.

Here is a list showing some of them:

Hypertension

Also called high blood pressure, it’s caused by diabetes affecting the circulation of blood through the body. Leave it unchecked, and it can raise your loved one’s risk of more serious conditions like stroke.

Your loved one’s blood pressure must be monitored regularly. Also, reducing the amount of salt in their diet is vital.

Nerve Pain

Diabetes can destroy nerve cells, leading to irritating or downright debilitating sensations of numbness, prickling, or burning. Cutting your loved one’s intake of sugar can help. But for the pain your loved one feels right now, you can talk to their provider about possible therapies for relief. Massages may be helpful.

Urinary Incontinence

Since diabetes damages the nerves, it can make processes like peeing harder to control. Most diabetes patients complain about regular or uncontrollable urination. These are not only inconvenient but also possible causes of bathroom accidents and urinary tract infection.

For incontinence, adult diapers can help reduce messes and the need for abrupt bathroom breaks. There are also specific interventions for urinary incontinence that you can learn about from their healthcare provider. This will take some encouraging for your loved one, but remind them that it’s for their well-being.

Managing these complications is easier when you have a reliable caregiver by your side. Call Lowenhill Home Care Services to learn how we help diabetes patients take care of themselves better.