Even if a diabetic is still as sharp as a tack, he may suffer from other aging-related ailments, such as poor vision, arthritis, or hearing impairment, that make managing this disease a greater challenge. A heart attack, stroke, or health complaints such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or obesity can further complicate his self-care regimen and speed up the progression of common diabetes complications. In turn, diabetes can exacerbate the symptoms of such coexisting conditions.
Potential solutions:
- Simplify pill taking. Help him deal with dual or multiple diagnoses by setting up a streamlined approach to pill taking. Also discuss any possible adverse drug interactions related to multiple diagnoses and medications with his diabetes doctor or pharmacist. For specific ideas, see our article on helping a patient follow medication recommendations.
- Seek professional help. Ask his diabetes educator or an exercise physiologist if mobility issues such as arthritis make activity difficult. These professionals can help figure out exercises he can do and will advise you if he has cardiovascular complications that may impact his ability to be active.
- Address the patient's specific needs. Supply a tape recorder if he has vision loss, so he can check medical information and keep records. Make sure a hearing-impaired patient receives a written record of any medication or treatment information.
