Minimize side effects

Side effects are a common difficulty when taking multiple medications. Symptoms can range from unpleasant and uncomfortable (such as drowsiness, confusion, insomnia, and loss of appetite) to more serious (such as mental impairment, depression, and delirium).

The good news here is that there's an arsenal of drug choices for diabetes care, which means it's worth exploring with a diabetic's doctor ways to tweak his drug treatment plan to minimize side effects.

Seek expert advice

Sometimes the person in your care just doesn't want to hear it from you. That's when his pharmacist can become an invaluable ally. The pharmacist can advise him about the types of pillboxes and other reminder aids.

If vision issues are a concern, his pharmacist may be able to provide prescription labels or medication instructions in larger print. The pharmacist can also split tablets if necessary or provide easy-open bottle tops for prescription medications.