Diabetes care and education often focuses on the person who has diabetes. However, it’s also important to consider others who may be involved in their care. Many people with diabetes have a primary caregiver, especially those who are older or who are disabled. It’s common for people to provide care to their relatives who are not able to fully care for themselves. 

Official statistics from the Ministry of Health indicate that 8.1% of adult Singaporeans under age 70 act as caregivers for a loved one.

A caregiver plays a very important role in the life of a person with diabetes. It’s essential for caregivers to be supported, and to receive education about how best to care for a person with diabetes.

Key Takeaways

• A caregiver can make a significant difference in the life of a person with diabetes, and may fulfill many different roles in helping to manage their condition.

• When caregivers receive education about diabetes, they may feel less overwhelmed and are better able to help their loved one manage their condition.

• Caregiver burnout occurs when the caregiver’s needs are not being met. It can affect not only the caregiver’s well-being, but also the well-being of the person they’re caring for.

• It’s essential for caregivers to receive support, and to ensure that their own needs are being met. This allows them to continue providing care for their loved one.

How important is the role of a caregiver?

A caregiver can make a huge difference in the life of a person with diabetes. In fact, a recent review of more than 20 scientific studies found that family support was correlated with better outcomes for people with diabetes, including improved glycemic control as well as psychological well-being. 

Caregivers often make sacrifices in order to provide care for a loved one, such as reducing their hours at work or even stopping work altogether. The caregiving role can be challenging, but it’s also clear that it makes a difference in the lives of those receiving care.

What are some possible roles of caregivers?

A caregiver for a person with diabetes can help their loved one manage their condition in a huge number of ways. Some of their roles may include:

• Helping to monitor blood sugar levels

• Checking for signs of problems related to diabetes (such as wounds that aren’t healing)

• Monitoring medications and ensuring that they’re taken at the right times

• Administering insulin injections

• Ensuring that the person with diabetes gets regular medical care (which may include making appointments as well as providing transportation)

• Providing healthy meals

• Planning the timing of meals, to avoid issues like hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)

• Encouraging healthy habits, like getting enough exercise and sleep 

• Emotional support

Education for caregivers

As a caregiver for a person with diabetes, it’s very important that you educate yourself about diabetes. Educational efforts are often focused on the person with diabetes themselves, but their caregivers also need to learn about how best to manage this condition in order to help their loved one get the best possible outcomes.

Some important educational topics include:

• How, and how often, to monitor blood glucose

• How to manage medications for diabetes (which may include oral medications and/or insulin, depending on your loved one’s treatment plan)

• Signs of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and how to address it

• Signs of potential complications of diabetes (such as wounds that don’t heal)

• What a healthy eating plan looks like for a person with diabetes

• How to create a healthy exercise plan

We have a huge variety of educational resources here on our website, which may be a good place to start. Knowing more about diabetes can help you to feel more in control and less overwhelmed as you care for your loved one. You will be better able to help them monitor their diabetes and take the right steps to control their blood sugar levels, including encouraging healthy lifestyle changes along with using any necessary medications.

If the person with diabetes is open to it, the caregiver may want to attend medical appointments along with their loved one. This can give you a chance to learn more about your loved one’s condition and how best to support and care for them. Usually, a person with diabetes is happy to have their caregiver come to their medical appointments, but it’s always best to ask them to make sure.

At the appointments, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Your loved one’s medical team wants to help you provide the best possible care. They can also point you towards additional educational resources, if you’d like to learn more.

NOVI Magnum is a program that helps patients take control of diabetes. 

Caregiver burnout

Caregiving for someone you love can be very rewarding, but it can also be a significant challenge. When caregivers don’t get enough support, they may experience a condition known as burnout. 

Burnout is a feeling of physical and mental exhaustion, which often creeps up over time. It occurs when a caregiver’s own needs are not being met. Burnout can lead to a variety of symptoms, including:

• Fatigue

• Changes in appetite or weight

• Trouble sleeping

• Headaches or body aches

• Feeling irritable or on edge

• Feeling constantly worried or anxious

• Trouble concentrating

• Loss of pleasure or interest in the activities you used to enjoy

• Lack of motivation

Studies have shown that there’s a correlation between the degree to which caregivers are burdened by their roles, and the health status of the people with diabetes who they’re caring for. If you’re feeling experiencing burnout, it’s essential to address this. It will not only impact your own quality of life, but also your loved one’s diabetes control. 

Caregivers sometimes feel that considering their own needs is “selfish,” but the truth is that your loved one’s health depends on you staying healthy too.

What can you do to make your role easier?

To help reduce the risk of burnout, there are ways to help make your caregiving role easier.

• Ask for help. Caregivers often feel like they need to do everything for their loved one themselves, which almost always leads to burnout. Seek ways to lessen your caregiving load. This may involve getting some paid help. Even a few hours once or twice a week can make a huge difference.

• Take care of yourself. You won’t be able to care for your loved one if your own needs aren’t met. Don’t neglect your own care, such as your own doctor and dentist visits.

• Find support. Caregiving can be a challenge. Admitting that you’re struggling or that you sometimes have negative feelings doesn’t make you a bad caregiver. A counselor, therapist, or support group may be helpful. This can allow you to process your feelings, and to find ways to keep yourself mentally healthy.

Support from Experts

It’s important to get guidance from experts in diabetes care. The right team can help to find the best ways to manage your loved one’s condition, and can make your role easier. 

Patients on our NOVI Magnum program are monitored not only by expert diabetes doctors, but also by dietitians and health coaches, who help to support the patient in creating healthy lifestyle changes. 

This program is useful as it can help to take some of the burden off of the caregiver, while also helping to ensure that your loved one has the best possible diabetes control.