Navigating Your Role as a Caregiver

With a chronic condition like diabetes, caregiving can be a long-term and often challenging commitment.1 This page serves as a quick reference guide to help support you in your role as a caregiver. 

 

Table of Contents

Practical Tips Arrow icon
Support for Seniors Arrow icon
Important Reminders Arrow icon
Solutions for Success Arrow icon

Practical Tips

Some tips on how to help people living with diabetes as well as day-to-day tasks that may help you include1:

  • Knowing how to help test blood sugar levels and understanding the results
  • Ensuring easy access to testing equipment and spare blood glucose test strips
  • Maintaining a log or using tracking tools to help monitor your loved one’s data
  • Helping to maintain good hygiene or perform light housework
  • Checking on your loved one’s general well being

Being informed about financial assistance for people with diabetes and potential disability benefits allows you to inform your loved one of available resources. If your loved one is unable to work, you may want to explore options such as the CPP disability benefit (Canada Pension Plan disability benefits). Provincial financial assistance programs are also available.

 

Support for Seniors

There are some additional tips that may be particularly useful when helping manage diabetes in seniors or even ways to help you notice early signs of diabetes in seniors in a loved one who has not been diagnosed.

Older adults may attribute symptoms to the natural aging process (for example frailty, difficulty walking, depression, dementia, changes in weight) rather than potential signs of diabetes onset2.

Advocate for screening when you suspect diabetes may be present, but more importantly, encourage healthy behavior, which is beneficial for all persons, including those with advanced age2.

 

Important Reminders

There is an emotional component to living with diabetes. Below are some other reminders pertaining to how to help a diabetic outside of treatment-related tips3.

Diabetes is a chronic condition. Your loved ones do not get a break from their condition. Sometimes, people living with diabetes may feel like a failure. Tell them that they are not failing and empathize with their challenges.

Worrying is normal. Complications, as well as financial and emotional burdens, can cause loved ones to worry. Remind them that is okay. If you are concerned about something pertaining to your loved one’s physical health, reach out to their healthcare provider to help determine next steps.

Education makes a difference. Learning about diabetes by attending healthcare appointments or diabetes education classes can help you better support your loved one.
Resources are available. Apps can help your loved one share readings with you and learn how food and activities are impacting their diabetes.

You are part of the journey, and you need support, too. Remember to prioritize your own well-being through self-care. If you are a sole caregiver, you may sometimes feel lonely. Joining diabetes chat groups online is one way to help you feel connected.

 

Solutions for Success

You and your loved one’s healthcare provider can access and monitor patient blood glucose readings remotely via Glucocontro.online. This hub works seamlessly with the CONTOUR®DIABETES app, which is readily available so that you can share readings more easily with loved ones to better understand their journey with diabetes.

Discover CONTOUR®NEXT GEN

References:

  1. Sinclair AJ, Armes DG, Randhawa G, Bayer AJ. Caring for older adults with diabetes mellitus: characteristics of carers and their prime roles and responsibilities. Diabet Med. 2010;27(9):1055-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2010.03066.x. 
  2. Meneilly GS, Kimp A, Miller DB, et al. Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice Guidelines Expert Committee. 2018 Clinical Practice Guidelines: diabetes in older people. Can J Diabetes. 2018;42:S283-S295.
  3. Diabetes Canada. 10 ways to support your loved one with diabetes. Diabetes Canada. Published February 11, 2021. Accessed December 5, 2024. Available from https://www.diabetes.ca/about-diabetes/stories/10-ways-to-support-your-loved-one-with-diabetes.
  4. Living with diabetes. Government of Canada. Public Health Agency of Canada. Published December 28, 2023. Accessed December 5, 2024. Available from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/chronic-diseases/diabetes/living-with-diabetes.html.
  5. Canada Pension Plan disability benefits. Government of Canada. Modified September 20, 2024. Accessed December 5, 2024. Available from https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp/cpp-disability-benefit.html