As a caregiver in the assisted living industry, you know that it’s never too early or late to start planning for the future of your loved ones. This is especially true when it comes to prediabetes. Prediabetes is often a precursor to type 2 diabetes, which other health problems like high blood pressure and heart disease can complicate. In this blog post, we’ll discuss prediabetes and how you can help your loved one make intelligent lifestyle changes to prevent further complications.
What Does Prediabetes Do To Your Body?
When you have prediabetes, your body doesn’t produce sufficient insulin to regulate blood glucose levels properly. As a result, glucose builds up in the bloodstream instead of being used by cells for energy or stored as glycogen (a form of carbohydrate) for later use. The excess glucose attaches itself to proteins in the blood vessels. It contributes to other complications like high cholesterol levels and heart disease—prediabetes can increase your risk of developing severe health issues later on down the road if left untreated!
Symptoms Of Prediabetes
The symptoms of prediabetes include increased thirst, hunger, fatigue, blurred vision, and irritability. If your loved one has experienced more than one symptom for two or more of the past three months, then he or she may be at risk for type 2 diabetes.
How Do You Treat Prediabetes?
If you have prediabetes, your doctor may recommend making some lifestyle changes. These include:
- Losing weight if you’re overweight or obese. You can work with a dietitian to create an eating plan that’s right for you.
- Getting at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week (or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise). Your activities should be spread throughout the week and done in bouts of 10 minutes or longer. This can also help prevent other health problems such as heart disease and stroke.
- Eating a healthy diet low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol; high in fiber; and plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans and lean protein sources like fish or chicken without skin (with no added salt), soy products and low-fat dairy products such as milk & yogurt.
Can Assisted Living Help With Prediabetes?
If you suspect that someone you love has prediabetes, it’s important to approach them about their health concerns. Assisted living communities are equipped with physicians who can help your loved ones manage their condition effectively, so they don’t experience any further complications related to the disease later on in life.
Assisted living is ideal for people who need extra care and attention but can still live independently. Assisted living communities provide a safe, secure environment that allows you to enjoy life without worrying about maintenance or cleaning. Because supportive friends and caregivers will surround your loved one, they’ll get the support they need while benefiting from the peace of mind that comes with knowing their medical needs are being met.
If you feel your loved one would benefit from assisted living, but they have prediabetes, don’t worry! A good assisted living community will take care of their health needs as well as their physical needs. Your loved one will have access to all medical services, including diabetes management programs, at no additional cost to you.
Conclusion
You are not alone in this journey to manage prediabetes. Assisted living communities have the resources and knowledge to help residents with their conditions. They can provide support, education, medication management, and even diet plans to help your loved ones live healthier lives!
