What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic disease that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become abnormally high. The amount of sugar in the blood is regulated by insulin, an oestrogen produced by the pancreas (a gland behind the stomach). When food is consumed and reaches the bloodstream, insulin transports glucose from the blood into cells, where it is broken down to generate energy. If you have diabetes, your body is unable to convert glucose into energy.
Diabetes is classified into two types:
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease and occurs when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells, therefore you need to take insulin to control your blood glucose. It is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes. It is a genetic condition that gets diagnosed earlier in life (usually in childhood).
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or when the cells do not respond to insulin. It is also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes. It is mainly lifestyle-related and develops over time.
Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1, accounting for an estimated 90% of diabetes cases in UK adults.
What are the signs and symptoms?
Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes share common symptoms. These are:
- going to the toilet a lot, especially at night
- being really thirsty
- feeling more tired than usual
- losing weight without trying to
- genital itching or thrush
- cuts and wounds take longer to heal
- blurred vision
You can find out more information here: Diabetes UK – Know diabetes. Fight diabetes. | Diabetes UK
How Comfort Care At Home can help
Living with diabetes requires careful management. As a person gets older, this can become more complicated. That is why our care professionals at Comfort Care At Home are on hand to provide that little bit of extra support to help your loved one manage their diabetes, whether that be monitoring their blood sugar levels, administering medication, preparing nutritionally balanced meals or helping them keep hydrated.
Exercise and weight control can play a big role in managing your loved one’s diabetes, so if prescribed by medical professionals, our care professionals can introduce light exercises into their daily routine, for example going for a walk or doing gentle exercises.
We will also happily liaise directly with your loved one’s GP and pharmacists, to ensure all their medical needs are met. And if there is ever a time where a family member or friend is not available to accompany your loved one to an important appointment, we can do so and we can ask questions and take notes to share with you afterwards.
If you are looking for at home care for a loved one who has a diagnosis of diabetes, get in touch with our friendly care team today on 020 8610 9778 or email us on info@comfortcareathome.co.uk. We’ll answer your questions, direct you towards useful information and help you make the right choice for your loved one. We are here to help.