Diabetes and Dementia – A Caregiver’s Guide

It is tough to be a caregiver for a loved one, especially when they are suffering from dementia. Caring for someone with diabetes as well is even tougher still. Diabetes is a disease that requires constant monitoring. Combined with memory issues and a reduced capacity for self-care, this can be a lethal combination. Some recent studies even show connections between diabetes and reduced cognitive function. Too many low blood sugar episodes can potentially worsen dementia in patients with both illnesses. Your loved one can suffer from headaches and blurry vision if their blood sugar goes low. Be alert, and if you notice your loved one seems especially tired, hungry, or cranky check their sugar right away. If it goes too low they may faint, have a seizure, or even go into a coma. This is a serious danger for people who cannot monitor their own blood sugar. It can be worse still if they don’t remember whether they’ve eaten that day. As a caregiver, you’ll also need to monitor your loved one’s diet carefully. Making sure they’re getting the right number of carbohydrates in each meal is vital.

Key Points:

  • 1Diabetes is a disease that requires constant monitoring. Combined with memory issues and a reduced capacity for self-care, this can be a lethal combination.
  • 2As a caregiver, you’ll also need to monitor your loved one’s diet carefully. Making sure they’re getting the right number of carbohydrates in each meal is vital.
  • 3Technology can truly be a life saver when you are monitoring someone else’s blood sugar. You can set alarms to remind you to check their blood sugar multiple times per day.


If their blood sugar goes high, your loved one may be extremely thirsty or sick to their stomach. Blood sugar that stays too high for too long can damage internal organs and the nervous system.

Read the full article at: https://aginginhome.com/diabetes-dementia-caregivers-guide/

Share

HealthStatus has been operating since 1998 providing the best interactive health tools on the Internet, millions of visitors have used our health risk assessment, body fat and calories burned calculators. The HealthStatus editorial team has continued that commitment to excellence by providing our visitors with easy to understand high quality health content for many years.

User Reviews

Reply

Your email address will not be published

18 + 16 =

Written by HealthStatus
Medical Writer & Editor

HealthStatus has been operating since 1998 providing the best interactive health tools on the Internet, millions of visitors have used our health risk assessment, body fat and calories burned calculators. The HealthStatus editorial team has continued that commitment to excellence by providing our visitors with easy to understand high quality health content for many years.

View all post by HealthStatus