Tips for Helping a Senior with Diabetes Lose Weight
One of the primary risk factors for diabetes is being overweight or obese.
Simply losing a small amount of weight can improve management of the disease and achieving an ideal body weight can even resolve it for some people. If you are a family caregiver for an elderly adult who is living with diabetes and needs to lose weight, you can be a valuable source of support and help for them. Making some simple changes to their daily life and your ongoing care can help your parent to shed the pounds and improve their health.
Home Care Services in Arlington County VA: Senior with Diabetes Lose Weight
Use these tips to help a senior with diabetes lose weight:
- Talk to their doctor about their dietary restrictions and get recommendations for how to structure their diet to not only help them manage their blood sugar but also help them shed weight
- Encourage them to drink more water. Proper hydration supports ideal functioning throughout the body and also promotes weight loss by creating a sense of satiety that reduces the amount your parent wants to eat
- If they have been prescribed medications, make sure they stay compliant by offering reminders for when and how to take these prescriptions. This can help manage their blood sugar, which can reduce cravings
- Research together to find recipes that fit with your parent’s personal tastes but also comply with their dietary restrictions and guidelines from their doctor. This is a great way to stimulate their mind and spend quality time together, and can also make the idea of changing their diet less daunting for them
- Encourage your parent to find physical activities they enjoy and engage in them regularly. This can mean walking, swimming, dancing, gardening, and more
- Set goals and work toward them together. Having a set goal is motivating, and having you work with them is inspiring and provides accountability
Eating a healthy diet isn’t always easy for an aging adult.
The food they are familiar with might not be the food that is best for them, and they may also struggle with challenges and limitations that make it harder for them to prepare and cook these healthy meals. Fortunately, elder care can help. An elderly home care services provider can help your parent to remember and understand their dietary restrictions and guidelines from their doctor, assist with grocery shopping, and prepare meals and snacks to support this healthy diet. With this support, your parent can manage their diabetes and improve their overall health and well-being.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care Services in Arlington County, VA, please contact the caring staff at LivinRite Home Care. Call Us Today at (703) 634-9991.
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