Care In Home For a Senior With Diabetes - Proper Nutrition Tips

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posted by Ryan Whittington on November 09, 2010

November is American Diabetes month so it seems appropriate to discuss appropriate food choices for those with diabetes.

Proper nutrition is important for all people but is especially critical for those with diabetes.  As a professional in a home care company, I see many clients with diabetes levels that are out of control.  When a Seniors Home Care nurse does an assessment and identifies a client with diabetes, they always talk about the persons diet.  Lowering or limiting certain foods can make a dramatic change in a persons attitude and overall mood.

If you find yourself caring for a person with diabetes or have diabetes yourself, here are three tips to a successful diabetic diet:

Saturated Fats. 

Saturated fats are normally solid at room temperature and are found in animal fats, dairy and hydrogenated vegetable fats such as vegetable shortening. Avoiding these fats usually results in a lowered risk of heart disease and heart attack.

Eat healthy foods often.

Eating four to five small meals during the day decreases blood glucose and cholesterol levels. These benefits stem from the continuous absorption of food. Also, eating several small meals a day may decrease your hunger and reduce the number of calories you eat.

Understand folic acid.

Folic acid, or folate, is a B vitamin found in green, leafy vegetables and helps prevent heart disease. Folic acid also has links to improved brain function.  Folic acid is also available in a vitamin form at most health food stores.

One of the benefits of using a private duty company such as Seniors Home Care is that services such as meal preparation, insulin supervision and medication management create a comprehensive program that can get a seniors diabetic issues such as retinopathy, hypertension, and kidney problems back on track.  

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