San Jose Home Care helps seniors remain active and healthy in their own homes.

Many American seniors are familiar with diabetes since it is a medical condition that can develop later in life. However, few are familiar with the specific details of the condition before it touches their lives, and that includes seniors and caregivers alike. Both need to understand not only the essential information about diabetes, but also the potential complications that can develop like hypoglycemia so if it develops
in can be managed effectively:

• What signifies low blood sugar – there is a range for normal blood sugar which is measured by milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood). A normal range is between 60 and 120 mg/dl. Hypoglycemia is usually below 45 mg/dl

• What causes blood sugar issues – low blood sugar like hypoglycemia is caused when hormones like insulin and glucagon fail to regulate properly

• Recognizing hypoglycemia – symptoms can be hard to recognize because they can be associated to lifestyle conditions and other health problems like anxiety and stress

• Link to diabetes – hypoglycemia is a complication of diabetes because medications are designed to lower blood pressure. The problem is that sometimes blood pressure can dip too low when too much insulin has been taken, they exercise too much, don’t eat enough or drink too much alcohol. Any combination of these behaviors can cause hypoglycemia

• Managing hypoglycemia with diabetes – a health care provider can find seniors with the best guidelines with regards to their target blood sugar levels. Testing levels or becoming cognoscente of signs that blood sugar is dropping are simple ways to keep it under control

Via: About.com

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Home Instead Senior Care serving elders and seniors in San Jose, Los Gatos, Santa Clara and Saratoga home care - 408-370-6360.