How to Help a Friend or Relative With Diabetes

One of the best predictors of how well someone manages their diabetes is how much support they get from family and friends. Daily care is a lot to handle — checking blood sugar, eating healthy food, staying active — and your help can make the difference between a loved one feeling overwhelmed and feeling in control.

Ways to help

• Learn about diabetes: why and when blood sugar should be checked, how to recognize and handle highs and lows, what lifestyle changes are needed, and where to find information and help.
• Remember it's individual. Everyone with diabetes is different, and each treatment plan has to fit that person.
• Ask, then listen. Ask how you can help and listen to the answer. They may want reminders and a hand — or not — and their needs can change.
• Go to appointments, if they're comfortable with it, to learn how diabetes affects them and how best to help.
• Make room for self-care in the daily schedule: time to check blood sugar, cook healthy food, take a walk.
• Don't blame. Many people with type 2 diabetes are overweight, but that's only one of several factors, and blood sugar can be hard to control even with a healthy diet and regular activity. Diabetes is complicated.
• Respect their privacy. A family member or friend may not want to share everything about managing their diabetes.
• Accept the ups and downs. Mood can swing with blood sugar, from happy to sad to irritable. If they feel sad most days, encourage them to tell their health care team — it could be depression.
• Be encouraging. Tell them you know how hard they're trying, remind them of their successes and say how proud you are.
• Do it together. Follow the same healthy eating and activity plan. It's good for you too, and changes become habits more easily when you make them together.

Know the signs of low blood sugar

Hypoglycemia — low blood sugar — can be serious and needs treatment right away. Signs differ from person to person, so learn your friend's or relative's. They can include:

• shakiness, nervousness or anxiety;
• sweating, chills or clamminess;
• irritability or impatience;
• dizziness and trouble concentrating;
• hunger or nausea;
• blurred vision;
• weakness or fatigue;
• anger, stubbornness or sadness.

Children

If your child has diabetes, you'll be much more involved in daily care. Young children and those newly diagnosed need help with everyday management, while some older children are comfortable handling their own. Your child's health care team will give you detailed guidance.

Older adults

Diabetes is more common in older adults and can be harder for them to manage. They may be less able to notice high or low blood sugar, so knowing the signs and what to do is especially important. They may also have several complications — vision problems, kidney disease or nerve damage — which makes regular visits with their health care team essential.

Sources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "Helping Friends and Family With Diabetes."