Diabetes is one of the chronic ailments that can bring a lot of discomfort in the aging years. Your senior loved one with diabetes really needs total support and supervision especially when they get wounded. Diabetes can disable the body’s ability to heal fast, due to the excessive supply of glucose in the blood. Hence, when small cuts or scratches occur, these have to be treated immediately to prevent infection.
Skilled nurses providing quality home health care in Florida can extend proper care and treatment on wounds especially when the person has diabetes even if the patient is staying at home. However, family caregivers can also extend help with the following reminders:
- Treat Cuts Immediately
If ever the patient can accidentally get cut, it has to be treated as soon as possible. The immediacy has to be observed before the cut can complicate or get infected. You wash the affected area with soap and clean water, and then leave it to dry. Apply antibacterial ointment to prevent germs from infesting. - Avoid Applying Pressure
Wounds can heal faster when these are not applied pressure on. When the wounds are on the feet, it’s important that your loved one should avoid putting pressure so that healing will not be even more delayed. A home health aide can assist you in wrapping up the area to protect from unnecessary pressure. - Know When to Consult the Doctor
When cuts, scrapes, or scratches on the skin of a diabetic patient don’t improve after two days, you should have it seen by the doctor. Physicians can prescribe the medication for its immediate treatment. When the wound still doesn’t improve even after two weeks of treatment, it will need an even more intensive treatment. Consult your doctor for the condition. - Know the Signs of Infection
As the family caregiver, pay attention to the wounds if they have already been affected. The signs to look out for are redness, drainage, warm feeling at the surrounding area, and complaints of pain. Infection signs should not be overlooked and have to be checked by the physician. - Be Well-Nourished
Choose the food you eat and always go for the nutritious ones. With the right food, blood sugar can be regulated, and this facilitates faster wound healing. Protein-rich foods are especially helpful for efficient tissue repair, which means effective healing of wounds even when the patient has diabetes. - Exercise Regularly
As a home health agency in Miami Gardens, Florida, we also advise that the patient undergo regular exercises so that there’s efficient processing of blood sugar out of the body. This way, better wound healing can also take place.
Let us partner with you in providing quality patient care for your aging loved one with diabetes. Our skilled nurses at Nationwide Healthcare Services, Inc. are able to provide quality nursing services so that your family member can be in better condition even with diabetes. If you’re interested to learn about our services, set an appointment with us.
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