First Warning Signs of Type 2 Diabetes
Home Care in Winchester City
Type 2 Diabetes can develop at any time in a person’s life. It is a disease where the body stops making enough of a hormone called insulin, or has stopped using the insulin the way it should use it. Insulin is important because it is how the blood carries sugar to the cells of the body. When this isn’t working properly, glucose builds up in the blood, causing high blood sugar.
The good news is that if you notice any of these warning signs in your elderly parent, Type 2 Diabetes can usually be managed with lifestyle changes. Some of these symptoms happen fairly slowly, and may not always be noticeable at first. This is why having not only yourself monitor your parent’s health, but also having someone like a home care provider be an important caregiver of your parent can help you catch health concerns before it’s too late.
Warning Signs of Type 2 Diabetes
Increased thirst
Because people don’t think of being thirsty as a sign of anything other than being dehydrated, if your parent has had increased thirst lately, he may not even notice it. It may become more noticeable to others, like your home care provider, if your parent continually asks for a refill of his drink or complains of a dry mouth. This symptom occurs early on, because the kidneys are working extra hard to get rid of the sugar building up in the blood by pulling fluids from your parent’s tissues, making him dehydrated and thirsty.
Increased hunger
Along with being more thirsty, your parent may be hungrier. Because diabetes stops glucose from getting to the needed cells, your parent may feel hungry even after eating.
Weight loss
Despite being more hungry and eating more, your parent may start to lose weight without even trying. You or your home care provider may notice his clothes are baggy or that he’s looking gaunt. If he has not been trying to lose weight, any weight loss should be checked out immediately.
Increased urination
All that drinking of fluids will cause your parent to urinate more often, but that’s not the only reason he may be making more trips to the bathroom. Diabetes is causing those kidneys to work hard as they try to get that extra sugar out of your parent’s body. This excessive urination will also cause your parent to lose a lot of calories.
Feeling fatigued
As your parent’s body is trying to maintain healthy levels of blood sugars, it’s getting tired. He may find he has less energy than normal or feels tired all the time.
Blurred vision
High levels of blood sugar can cause your parent to have trouble focusing as he’s reading or watching TV. If he complains about blurred vision to you or his home care provider, he may not need new glasses. He may need his blood sugar levels checked.
The sooner you notice Type 2 Diabetes coming on, the sooner you can start helping your parent make some lifestyle changes to combat it.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Home Care in Winchester City, VA, please contact the caring staff at LivinRite Home Care. Call Us Today at (703) 634-9991. Serving Northern Virginia, The Valley, and Surrounding Communities.
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