Managing diabetes doesn’t have to be overwhelming! With the right support, you can live a happy, active, and fulfilling life right from the comfort of your home. In fact, having an in-home diabetes management plan can be all you need to understand and manage the condition to ensure you remain healthy and happy while going about your normal daily activities.
In this month’s blog we look into how in-home diabetes care and management can make all the difference to your health and quality of life.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition which affects how your body processes glucose (sugar). When we eat, our body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose, which is then used for energy. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, helps regulate blood sugar levels by allowing glucose to enter the cells. In diabetes, this process is disrupted, leading to high blood sugar levels.
There are three main types of diabetes:
- Type 1 diabetes – An autoimmune condition where the body attacks insulin-producing cells, requiring lifelong insulin therapy.
- Type 2 diabetes – The most common form, where the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn’t produce enough, often linked to lifestyle factors.
- Gestational diabetes – Occurs during pregnancy and usually resolves after childbirth.
Common symptoms of diabetes include:
- increased thirst and urination
- fatigue
- blurred vision
- Unintended weight loss
Managing diabetes at home
For most people, day-to-day diabetes management can be done from home. The condition, when managed properly, can become a regular part of your daily routine and many people monitor their symptoms and glucose levels while out and about.
However, it isn’t as simple as taking medication at set times (although this is very important!) and there is a lot you can do to ensure your diabetes is well managed by setting up your home and routine well.
Here are some things you can do to manage diabetes at home:
- Diet planning: Getting on top of your dietary needs and meal planning accordingly so you aren’t caught out with the wrong foods or not enough supplementary sugar.
- Medication needs: Having your medication organised and stored safely and correctly is important for managing diabetes at home.
- Regular testing: Getting into a routine of testing regularly makes it easier to understand and interpret your results. This will mean you pick up small changes better and notice any changes which need medical intervention.
- Physical activity: Keeping fit and healthy is important to manage diabetes, and in some cases reverse type 2 diabetes. Find an exercise routine or class you love and stick with it!
- Regular check-ups: Keep in touch with your doctors and specialists to ensure you are across the latest technologies and medications, but also to monitor your overall health.
- Nursing support: Engaging with an in-home nursing service can help take a lot of the guess work and management out of your day-to-day to ensure consistent and quality care for you and your loved ones.
In-home diabetes services in Brisbane and Moreton Bay
The team at Focused Health Care support patients with diabetes across Queensland. With qualified and experienced nurses on staff, we can help you take the stress out of diabetes management. Some of the programs and services we can deliver are:
Education
If you’ve recently been diagnosed and are looking for how to integrate the medical and home management of diabetes into your life, our team can help. We can support you to identify what might need to happen at home and when you’re out and about, to better understand the condition.
In-home daily support
We can come into your home and help you with your daily tasks and any side effects of the condition, including wound management and prevention.
Medication management
You can remove the reminders from your phone about when to take your medication, because our team can do it for you. One of our nurses can come into your home and dispense the correct medication and dose to you as often as needed.
Dietary support
One of the key factors of managing diabetes is your diet. Having a complementary diet which includes all the right nutrients is important to your health. Our team can help you by cooking meals which meet these requirements and ensure you’re getting everything you need at mealtimes.
Contact our friendly team today to chat about how we can help you manage diabetes at home.
* All information is general and not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Focused Health Care can consult with you regarding your individual health needs.
