Nick Dow's blog : Caring for a patient with diabetes: what to look for
Diabetes can lead to various complications. More than 50% of diabetics suffer from visual impairment, vascular dysfunction, and diabetics have an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease or stroke. Another common problem is slow blood circulation and impaired sensitivity, which often leads to problems with the legs. Finally, a diabetic patient generally has reduced immunity, so there is often a risk of getting infections. All of this is worth remembering if you are caring for a person with diabetes.
Care for patients with diabetes should be entrusted to a specialist with medical education. There are key points to pay attention to. Alsp you can check cdpap pay rate ny.
General care points
First of all, it is important to know how to inject insulin and monitor blood sugar levels. This is a vital indicator for a patient with diabetes. With type 1 diabetes, determine the sugar level several times, depending on the condition, from once a week in the morning to several times a day. With type 2 diabetes, you can measure these data several times a month, and at different times of the day. We recommend keeping records, this will help monitor the patient's condition. The sugar content in the urine is also determined (test strips are used).
It is also important for a diabetic to follow a diet (the amount of carbohydrates should be reduced), as well as take special medications prescribed by a doctor - it is also worth monitoring compliance with these rules.
Sore legs
This is a common problem for diabetics. With diabetic polyneuropathy, sensitivity in the legs is lost, and numbness often occurs. The most alarming thing is the appearance of non-healing wounds, "diabetic foot" and gangrene.
It is important to conduct a daily inspection to notice any wounds, calluses, skin irritations in time. Constantly practice hygiene, feet need to be washed daily. The skin often dries out, so for feet and shins you need to use only those products that do not dry the skin. Also use special creams that soften and nourish the skin.
Physical activity should not be ignored either, doctors especially note the importance of this for diabetics. It is necessary to perform special exercises that help maintain the correct functioning of blood vessels and help the blood not to stagnate, especially in the legs. This will help to avoid dangerous bedsores and especially gangrene, which is fraught with even the loss of a leg.
Skin care
The skin suffers greatly with diabetes, so you need to monitor the possible appearance of abrasions, calluses, cracks. Bedsores may also appear (especially in patients with excess weight, which is not uncommon with diabetes).
Very often, diabetics complain of constant itching. It's a vicious circle: scratching leads to skin wounds, which become inflamed, and itching appears again. It is necessary to try to avoid such problems from the very beginning.
Hygiene, again, is the first assistant in this case. It is necessary to constantly cleanse the skin, use products only with a neutral pH. Be sure to use emollients and moisturizers, special ointments for diabetics. Diabetics suffer from obesity, in this case, inflammation can develop in the folds of the skin, then turning into bedsores.
Keep an eye on these areas, use anti-diaper rash products. If wounds appear, do not wait for inflammation to develop. However, it is important to remember that you cannot use alcohol-based products or any other skin irritants.
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