Managing diabetes in older adults  

Diabetes Awareness Week occurs every year in the third week of June (this year, it falls from June 10th to 16th). 

Early detection is vital in diabetes because early treatment saves lives, prevents medical emergencies, and reduces the risk of life-changing complications in the future. So, it's essential to ensure everybody knows the signs to look out for and understands the risks.  

Diabetes UK, the UK's leading diabetes charity, reports that every two minutes, someone is diagnosed with diabetes.  According to estimates, hundreds of thousands of people, unaware they are suffering from the condition, are yet to be diagnosed.  

Life-changing diabetes technology 

Our digital social care record system, mCare, helps manage diabetes in older adults. The innovative care planning software, which gives care providers a complete overview across their care home group, enables carers to monitor individuals with diabetes much more closely. 

Checking blood sugar levels  

Monitoring blood sugar levels is essential when you have diabetes. With mCare's Observation Charts feature, which records vitals such as blood pressure and weight for each resident, carers can see blood sugar levels and quickly spot trends or changes. The data, shown in graphs, help care staff see improvement or deterioration.  

Diabetes and oral health  

Diabetes increases the risk of dental problems such as gum disease, also known as periodontal disease. In order to effectively manage diabetes, it's important to monitor and keep residents' mouths, teeth and gums healthy.  

mCare's oral health feature allows care staff to record oral health assessments, create and maintain care plans tailored to people's needs, and capture detailed real-time recordings of oral care. Digital recording enables carers to flag issues so they can be addressed quickly by dental professionals; carers can also provide evidence of oral care support, which meets the NICE Quality Standards and CQC's Key Lines of Enquiries.  

Encouraging regular exercise  

Daily exercise could help to prevent and relieve diabetes. Government guidelines recommend that older adults exercise at least 150 minutes a week (30 minutes a day, five days a week).  

Exercising can help the body use insulin better by increasing insulin sensitivity; it can also help people with type 2 diabetes improve their HbA1c - which can sometimes help people go into remission. 

mCare makes planning and tracking exercises simple. With its detailed digital care plans, carers can ensure that each resident's needs are monitored, recorded, and met. Downloading our Activities calendar or using our Oomph! On-Demand wellbeing and activities platform will also help keep those under your care active and engaged.     

Fluid and Nutrition Monitoring  

Residents must drink enough every day to stay hydrated and healthy. Eating a balanced diet is also important and helps to keep weight, blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels under control.  

mCare's Fluid and Nutrition Monitoring feature helps carers track residents' fluid and nutritional needs in real-time, ensuring each individual gets the right amount of fluid.  Our Smart Cup Fluid Monitoring feature also has ways to monitor fluid intake and prevent dehydration.   

Managing medications  

Medication and insulin play an essential role in diabetes management. Our electronic medicines management system, ATLAS eMAR, helps to reduce medication errors and simplify the medicine management process.  

Care providers can deliver the right medication at the right time, keep residents' medical records accurate and up to date, and inform staff of residents' allergies.    

Give your care team more time to spend with residents and learn more about ATLAS eMAR. 

If you want to learn more about the other solutions our Connected Care Platform offers, click here.