Caring for a Parent with Diabetes at Home: Daily Tips for Families

Diabetes is common among older Kenyans, and managing it well is mostly about daily habits. Here's how families can help — always alongside the plan from your parent's doctor or diabetes clinic.

Regular meals

• Keep mealtimes regular, especially if your parent takes diabetes medicine or insulin
• Follow the diet advice from the clinic — often more vegetables, controlled portions of ugali, rice and chapati, and fewer sugary drinks
• Don't skip meals; missing a meal after medicine can cause low blood sugar

Medicines

• Keep a simple schedule and tick off each dose
• Never change, stop or double doses without the doctor's advice
• Bring all medicines to clinic appointments

Activity

Gentle, regular activity — such as a daily walk — helps control blood sugar. Check with the doctor about what's safe.

Foot care

Diabetes can reduce feeling in the feet and slow healing.

• Check feet daily for cuts, blisters, redness or colour changes
• Keep feet clean and dry, especially between the toes
• Wear well-fitting shoes; avoid walking barefoot
• Report any sore or wound to a nurse or doctor promptly

Know the signs of low blood sugar

Shaking, sweating, hunger, confusion, unusual behaviour or drowsiness. Follow the plan the doctor has given you. If your parent becomes very drowsy, confused or can't be woken, call 999 or 112.

Know the signs of high blood sugar

Extreme thirst, passing a lot of urine, tiredness, and blurred vision. Contact the doctor — and seek urgent care if they are vomiting, very drowsy or breathing fast.

Regular check-ups

Keep appointments at the diabetes or blood pressure clinic, including eye checks and kidney tests as advised.

Where a caregiver helps

A caregiver can prepare suitable meals, give reminders for prescribed medicine, encourage activity, help record readings where the client or a nurse uses a home monitor, watch for warning signs, and accompany your parent to clinic. See diabetes & chronic condition support.