In this blog, Practical Advice on Caring for a Friend with Diabetes, we’re going to cover the different ways you can support a friend or family member who lives with Diabetes.
Supporting a loved one, is different than being a carer whose main responsibility is providing essential every-day care. This blog is more appropriate for someone who wants to be helpful but isn’t involved in the day-to-day management of someone’s Diabetes.
The first step to caring for a loved one with Diabetes is to learn about the illness and how it affects the everyday life and health of a person with it. The symptoms, effects and management of Diabetes can vary from person to person. So, whatever you read, do not assume it’s exactly the same for your friend.
It’s important to also ask your friend about their experience and check they are happy for you to get involved. What might seem to be an act of kindness, could be an invasion of privacy.
Learn About Diabetes and Diabetes Management
Diabetes is a serious metabolic condition that affects the production, and use, of insulin. If your loved one is happy for you to do so, their healthcare team will show you how to deliver insulin injections, glucose tablets, and check their blood sugar, feet, and medical technology, such as a continuous glucose monitor.
If your friend or family member has hypoglycaemia a.k.a “hypos” (low blood sugar) or hyperglycaemia a.k.a “hypers” (high blood sugar), find out how to spot and treat them.
Your loved one may be experiencing a hypo if they are:
- Shaky
- Disorientated or confused
- Sweaty
- Pale
- Irritable or anxious
When you’re spending time with your friend, it’s good to know that skipping or delaying meals, drinking alcohol, exercising, experiencing illness or being in stressful situations can all increase the likelihood of a hypo. You could keep some fast-acting carbohydrates with you in case your friend needs them whilst you’re together. You may also notice, that after experiencing a ‘hypo’ your friend seems tired or lacking energy, so it is always worth bearing this in mind if you are with them, especially if taking part in a physical activity.
A person experiencing hypers may be:
- Going to the toilet more often than usual
- Very thirsty
- Nauseous
- Experiencing headaches and/or blurred vision
- Feeling very tired
If you notice any of these symptoms, ask your friend to test their blood sugar and help them through any emotional stress they are experiencing.
Help Them Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is tremendously important for managing Diabetes. You can help your loved one by maintaining a healthy diet and engaging in physical activity together. Encourage them to eat a balanced diet and avoid high-fat, high-sugar, and high-calorie foods. Help them make healthy choices when going out together.
Diabetics must monitor the total amount of carbohydrates in the foods they eat, so if they turn down the offer food, such as cake, from you, they aren’t necessarily being rude. It may just be that on that day they know it won’t be good for their blood glucose levels. It is more than likely that they would love to enjoy a slice of cake but know that it wouldn’t be good for them at that time. Look for fun and healthy activities to do together, such as walking, hiking, or cycling. Meditation can ease stress and enjoyable low-impact exercises such as yoga can be equally as beneficial as high-impact exercise.
Equally, still invite them to parties and nights out, don’t leave them out of social events.
People with Diabetes can still drink alcohol if they wish but it’s worth noting, don’t assume your loved one is drunk if they are acting strange. The signs of drunkenness are similar to those of low blood sugar.
Be Supportive of Medication and Plans Changing
Managing Diabetes involves making many more decisions every day about health and wellness. Many people with Diabetes can find it stressful and even exhausting.
Help your friend or family member by being supportive when it comes to taking medication and monitoring blood sugar levels. Offer to help them remember to take their medication and help them to set up a routine or buddy reminder agreement. It is also helpful to understand that if you are eating out with a friend with Type 1 Diabetes, they will usually need to inject insulin before or after eating.
Bear in mind that your loved one may take longer to travel somewhere, frequently arrive late to something, or cancel planned events. If they aren’t feeling well, they may have strict advice to follow from their healthcare team. They may also plan their travel around being able to take insulin and eat properly. You can help them by not getting grumpy about it and be understanding of the pressure they are under.
Be a Positive Influence and Look After Yourself Too!
Remember that a person with Diabetes is not just ‘a Diabetic’; they are a whole person with wants and needs, dreams, and desires. Do not put too much emphasis on their medical condition if they don’t like it.
Encourage them to be positive about their treatment, be understanding, and offer emotional support, but know when to step back and let them be independent of the condition.
There are more details in this blog How To Be A Friend To Someone With Diabetes by Diabetes UK. This includes links to support that friends and family of someone with Diabetes may find helpful.
Diabetes can be a difficult and frustrating condition to manage so having friends and family who are empathetic, caring, and knowledgeable can mean a lot.
Learning about Diabetes, and how it is managed, and particularly what works for your friend, is essential for providing practical care and support. By being encouraging and taking part in their efforts to maintain a healthy lifestyle, you can make a real difference to their quality of life.
Practical Advice on Caring for a Friend with Diabetes FAQs
What are the most effective ways to support a friend with diabetes on a daily basis?
Learn about diabetes so you have a basic understanding of the stressors and difficulties people with diabetes can encounter. Even if your friend doesn’t disclose what type of diabetes they have, an understanding of the disease gives you an awareness of how many decisions they have to make each day. The little things really add up to effective support:
- Be patient with them, especially if they cancel or change plans last minute
- Choose healthier social activities that don’t revolve around food and alcohol
- Don’t bring up their diabetes if they don’t want to talk about it
- Avoid judging them for injecting insulin or taking medication
- Ask if they need any extra support and show up if they take you up on the offer
- Learn what their preferred treatment for low or high blood sugar is and what to do if they feel unwell whilst in your company
How can I educate myself about diabetes management to better assist my friend?
Outside of talking with your friend about their lived experience, you can find reliable sources of information about diabetes from charity and healthcare websites. Diabetes.org has a great article on being a friend to someone with diabetes, and the NHS has a comprehensive section about diabetes. Whatever you read, remember that everyone experiences diabetes differently, so just because you have read something in a medical journal, doesn’t mean your friend experiences it exactly the same way. You can also learn from other people’s lived experiences in the Diabetes.co.uk forum.
What should I do if I notice signs of a diabetes-related emergency in my friend?
Even if your friend looks after their insulin management, a number of reasons can make someone with diabetes feel unwell suddenly. If you notice your friend is behaving drowsy and confused, shaky, unresponsive, sweaty, or clammy offer them some sugary snacks or drinks, make sure they are sitting or lying down so they don’t hurt themselves if they faint, and reassure them. This is not medical advice, call 999 for proper medical assistance and advice.
How can I balance offering help while respecting my friend’s independence?
People with diabetes must make so many decisions a day that talking about diabetes with others can add to their exhaustion of the topic. Other diabetes patients feel they cope better when they can openly talk about living with the disease. Striking the balance right comes from having that discussion with your friend and learning about diabetes so they aren’t doing all the work educating people.
In general, giving unsolicited dieting and exercise advice, commenting on their food and drink choices, being embarrassed if they inject themselves, and gossiping about their personal health and wellbeing without permission is unwelcome behaviour. Even if it comes from a place of concern.
