As your parents grow older, they typically become less and less able to care for themselves. This is especially true of diabetic patients, who may require more careful lifestyle management and medications. If your parent suffers from diabetes, make sure you are on the lookout for these signs that they are no longer effectively caring for themselves and could benefit from in-home care.

1. They are not taking medications on-time and properly.

The next couple of times you visit your parent, pay attention to how much medication they have left. If there are 2 days until you pick up their next prescription, but they have 12 pills left, that could be a red flag that they are not taking their medication properly. If they often seem confused as to whether or not they took certain medications, or if you have seen them double up on doses accidentally, this is also a sign of trouble. An in-home care service will make sure your parent takes their meds on-schedule, which will help keep their blood sugar under closer control and prevent diabetic complications.

2. They've required hospitalization for diabetic symptoms.

Has your parent visited the hospital because they were dealing with either a diabetic coma or high blood sugar? Maybe they've had a lot of doctor visits due to infections in the toes lately — a common threat to diabetics who do not control their blood sugar well enough. An increase in the need for treatment of diabetic symptoms can indicate that your parent is not controlling their diabetes as well as they once were, which often means they could benefit from in-home care.

3. They've stopped testing.

Diabetic patients typically need to test their blood sugar a few times per day. If you suspect your parent has stopped testing — maybe you used to see them test, but now you never do — this could be a sign that they are having trouble testing due to a lack of dexterity. An in-home care service could help with this problem by sending a nurse to test your parent's blood sugar. Then, your parent will be sure to get the proper dose of insulin to keep their blood sugar levels under closer control.

To learn more about in-home care for diabetic patients, reach out to a care service near you. Most are friendly, accommodating, and happy to help when your parent needs a little extra assistance. Companies like Midwest Healthcare Services can help.