Caring for a diabetic patient requires attention to detail and some knowledge of diabetes. Doing research to learn more about disease can help. Local hospitals typically have workshops on diabetes that focus on educating family members and those caring for diabetic patients in clear, everyday language. Diabetic patients have special dietary and exercise concerns that cause bigger problems if neglected. Medications for diabetics range from pills to injections. You should be trained in giving injections in case the diabetic patient you care for requires them and is unable to inject himself.
Instructions
Research
1. Become familiar with your diabetic patient's doctor-recommended menu plan. Sugars and starches in particular can cause unnecessary blood glucose imbalances for diabetic patients.
2. Learn to fully use, read and interpret the readings of your patient's blood glucose meter. There are many on the market, so knowledge of one does not make you proficient in understanding another. Be sure test strips are never outdated.
3. Get into the habit of logging each test reading, each item your patient has eaten and the time and dose of insulin. Pay attention to serving sizes and diabetic exchanges in your patient's daily diet.
4. Be sure your diabetic patient has plenty of opportunity to exercise daily. No matter the mobility range of your patient, there are always ways to exercise at least a little each day.
5. Watch any sores, bruises or broken bones very carefully, as wounds on a diabetic tend to heal more slowly and are at greater risk of infection. Pay particular attention to the feet of your patient. Many diabetics have trouble in the lower legs and feet.
6. Keep learning new things about diabetes. Research is ongoing and there are many things that can be done with diet and homeopathy in addition to insulin treatments and other medications, to improve the lives of diabetic patients and slow the deterioration of the body.
Tags: your patient, diabetic patient, diabetic patients, blood glucose, your diabetic, your diabetic patient
