Manage stress – yours and your loved ones. Stress can affect how the body responds to insulin and increase blood sugar levels, so it is important for everyone to learn how to manage stress. Excellent ways to do this as the caregiver and the diabetic include:
- Getting enough sleep. Most adults need seven to eight hours of sleep per night. If you are caring for a diabetic child, children generally need several additional hours of sleep.
- Exercising. Exercise releases endorphins which cause you to relax and improve your mood. This will benefit you both and help you sleep better at night.
- Taking back control of your health. Your stress level will decrease when you start to see the lifestyle changes you have made are improving your health.
- Deep breathing – you’d be surprised what a few deep breaths can do decrease stress. By breathing deeply and slowly you are focusing on breathing and the situation causing you stress. It also expands your lungs, provides more oxygenation to your blood, encouraging your body to relax thus reducing the bodies stress response.
Self-care for the Caregiver
Taking care of yourself as a caregiver is a must! Being a caregiver can be frustrating, exhausting, and stressful. It is important to remember to take care of yourself as well. This is critical for your own health and well-being, and so that you can continue to be an effective caregiver. Ways to take care of yourself other than eating well and moving your body include:
- Joining a caregivers’ support group. You can search online for groups near you or if you don’t want to participate in an in-person group there are many online support groups on Facebook.
- Talk to family and ask for help. Get help grocery shopping, doing errands, cleaning your and/or your loved one’s home.
- Maintaining your hobbies so that you get a mental break from your care-giving responsibilities even if that means hiring a sitter or paid caregiver for a few hours.
- Hiring a caregiver to do small tasks around the house, wound care and just being a watchful companion for your loved one so you can get out of the house is worth more than you can imagine.
Hiring a Caregiver
You may be at your breaking point and have starting to think about hiring a caregiver. A caregiver can be another family member, friend or even a willing neighbor in a pinch but if the person you are caring for becomes more debilitated you may need some outside help. For hire in-home caregivers are also called CNA’s (certified nursing assistants) or private-duty aids. They are usually found through agencies or companies that ensure their staff is up to date with certification for the services that they provide and do criminal background checks. Google “in-home caregivers” or “private duty caregiver” in your area for a list of agencies to call on. For more information on the topic of hiring a caregiver see my post (HERE)
I hope this helps give you guidance and resources. Caring for someone who is ill is a full-time job and caregiver burnout is a real thing. Even a nurse can tell you it’s not a job you can do 24/7. We are exhausted after a 12-hour shift and so often go home to be caregivers to our own sick family members. Take care of yourself first so you can take care of others!
Medical Disclaimer
Every attempt has been made using evidence-based practices in research and the use of respected medical journals in print, video or media etc. to provide the latest information available to-date in healthcare. Statements made on this website are my own unless otherwise quoted or referenced. Healthcare is an ever-evolving practice with new research developing daily and an open dialog with your healthcare provider usually promotes the best outcomes. Information found here is not meant to replace that of your provider(s). Statements made regarding supplementation have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because the FDA does not regulation nutritional supplements. The information provided is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. The material on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before beginning or stopping any new treatment or therapy program. Any designations or references to therapies, specific products etc. are for marketing purposes only and may be sponsored or promoted.