Live Free Home Health Care, LLC. - Bristol, New Hampshire

All posts within: diabetes

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Never ignore these diabetes symptoms

Diabetes care is an everyday event, and some days you will naturally feel better than others. However, there are some diabetes symptoms that should never be ignored, and which require a physician’s attention. Here are a few important examples:

Frequent urination

Extreme thirst or hunger

Acting drunk

Strange behavior can also signal low blood sugar

Infections, swollen or bloody gums, foot sores

Sudden changes in vision, eye pain, or seeing spots or lights floating in one’s field of vision

Heart disease symptoms – even if it’s just a suspicion

For more diabetes resources, click here.

Contact Live Free Home Healthcare today to get a partner in home care who will make certain that you receive needed diabetic assistance in the home on a regular, daily basis to remain as healthy as possible. Live Free Home Health Care works with families in Concord and Central New Hampshire and the Lakes region.

Tags:   diabetes, home care, home health care

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Thursday, November 18, 2010

Reasons why diabetes and homecare are a good match

Did you know that 23.1% of seniors over the age of 60 have diabetes? If diabetes is left untreated or not properly cared for, it could result in complications such as heart disease and stroke, blindness, kidney disease and amputation.

So how can a home caregiver assist a diabetic? Here are a few examples:

A person with decreased vision may not see a small foot sore that could quickly become a major problem. A home caregiver can inspect a diabetic’s feet daily, can provide proper wound care and can coordinate care with a physician.

A home caregiver can provide proper nutrition, preparing tasty meals.

A home caregiver can assist with a physician-approved exercise program.

A home caregiver can provide reminders for glucose testing and can schedule regular physician checkups.

Coping with diabetes requires a reasonably high level of cognitive or mental function, given the need to follow a treatment plan that includes diet, exercise, and medication components as well as blood sugar testing and other self-care measures. Additionally, those with diabetes have a higher incidence of both dementia and Alzheimer's disease, making it even harder for them to perform multiple, complex tasks. Even garden-variety memory loss associated with aging can impact how well a person deals with diabetes.

A little extra assistance from a Live Free Home Healthcare caregiver can provide mental and physical stress relief for diabetics at home. Contact Live Free Home Healthcare at 603-217-0149 for more information on private duty diabetic care and customized options for varying client needs. Click here to learn more.

Live Free Home Health Care provides home care in Concord, New Hampshire, the rest of the Lakes region and central New Hampshire.

Tags:   better quality of life, diabetes, eldercare, home care, home companion, private duty agencies

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Thursday, November 11, 2010

What to do when diabetes care becomes a major drag

Diabetics understand that good diabetes care requires constant and consistent management. But this non-stop watch often leads to care fatigue, which is then compensated for by overlooking certain care needs.

Ignoring diabetes care can lead to serious complications such as heart disease, high blood pressure and even diabetic coma. However, there are ways to alleviate the stress of care and still remain hopeful and healthy:

Allow imperfection: Recognize that some days you’ll do better than others, and that’s ok.

Identify care barriers: And then get what you need to overcome those barriers.

Reframe care into easily recognizable benefits: Figure out the health benefit that is going to motivate you to do better.

Stick to a care plan: Setting a regular routine always helps.

Accept assistance: Don’t be afraid to ask for help to stay on track or stay motivated. Family, friends and an in-home caregiver are all great resources for assistance.

Contact Live Free Home Health Care in the Concord area for more information on how we can provide careful and consistent in-home diabetic care management and customized options for varying home care needs.

Besides Concord, New Hampshire, we also service the rest of the Lakes region including Laconia, Meredith, Gilford and central New Hampshire. Call us today at 603-217-0149.

Tags:   better quality of life, diabetes, eldercare

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Thursday, November 04, 2010

Why is foot care so important for diabetics?

For a person with diabetes, a minor foot wound can quickly turn into a bigger problem. Possible nerve damage, a weakened immune system and restricted blood flow can make it difficult for wounds to heal. Even minor wounds cannot be ignored and should be treated immediately. The best defense against difficult to heal foot wounds for a diabetic is to properly care for your feet. Here are a few precautions to keep feet healthy:

Keep feet clean and dry.

Inspect feet thoroughly each day.

Wear properly fitted footwear and avoid walking around in bare feet.

If foot ulcers occur, remove whatever pressure there is on the foot and use proper wound dressings.

Remember that for a diabetic, any foot wound requires the attention of a physician. A well trained in-home caregiver such as at Live Free Home Health Care can also help with preventative foot care and recognizing potential foot issues.

For more information on diabetic foot care, click here.

Live Free Home Health Care is different from other home care agencies because all of our care is nurse supervised and we work seamlessly with your physician. Besides traditional home care services such as personal care, housekeeping and meal preparation, we also offer specialized home care services for diabetics in Concord, New Hampshire, the rest of the Lakes region and central New Hampshire.

Tags:   caregiver tips, diabetes, eldercare

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Sunday, June 24, 2007

Tips for Diabetic Patients

Diabetes? Oh no! Nobody likes to hear that he or she has been diagnosed with diabetes, but the good news is that there are things you can do to prevent it from worsening too quickly and ways to stay on top of the disease. One of the most important things you can do is check your blood sugars. I know nobody likes to prick his or her finger, but it is the only way to know what your blood sugar is doing. And there are newer machines now that use just a small drop of blood and one that you can even get the sample from your forearm, which is less painful than your fingertips. Normal blood sugars range 70-125. So that would be the ideal level to have yours at. Blood sugar naturally elevates when we eat, so it is a good idea to check your blood sugar at different times of the day to see if it is going a lot higher after meals. Then after you check the blood sugar, write it down along with the time of day and if it is before or two hours after a meal. You can then take this logbook to your doctor so he can see if any adjustments need to be made to your medications.

Speaking of doctors, it is a good idea to visit yours every three months if you have diabetes. Then you can have your HgbA1c (hemoglobin A 1 c) checked. This level is taken from your blood and tells you what your blood sugars have been averaging over the previous three months. So there is no cheating with this one! People without diabetes typically have a HgbA1c of 5.0 or less. For diabetics, an average below 7.0 is ideal. A range from 7.0-8.0 demonstrates a need for improvement, and anything over 8.0, is considered poor control. If your HgbA1c is over 8.0, that is the time to take a closer look at your diet and see how much you are cheating, monitor your level of exercise, and possibly adjusting your medications. The doctor will also check the bottoms of your feet for neuropathy (loss of sensation) by using a monofilament, which is a very fine instrument that “tickles” your feet.

Because diabetics are more prone to neuropathies (or loss of sensations, typically starting in the feet), it is a good idea to check your feet everyday. Using a hand mirror, you can look at both feet from all angles to check for any sores or open areas. If you do notice one, call your doctor right away. An eye exam once per year is also important to check for any changes to your eyes, even if you haven’t noticed any changes to your vision.

Diabetes management is one of the services that our nurses have a lot of knowledge in. If you need help using your glucose monitor, understanding what your diabetic medications are all for, or some dietary counseling, we can help you with that. Or if you just have questions, we are a resource you can use. Good luck at staying in good control!

Jennifer L. Harvey RN, BSN
Live Free Home Health Care
New Hampton, NH
Jennifer Harvey is a registered nurse and owner of Live Free Home Health Care in Central New Hampshire. LFHHC specializes in eldercare and in home care for people seeking to remain in their own homes. For more information visithttp://www.livefreehomehealthcare.com/ or call 603-346-4214.

Tags:   diabetes, Jennifer Harvey

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