Being Prepared to Help

There are many ways you can be prepared to help someone with diabetes. Consider any of the following tips:

• Gently remind your loved one to check his or her blood sugar and take his or her diabetes medication from time to time. You should also remind him or her to rotate injection sites, which can help avoid skin changes such as pitting or thickening, called lipodystrophy
• Be more active with your loved one. This may mean taking evening walks, engaging in sports, or finding other activities that you both enjoy. Increasing your own activity level can encourage your loved one to get more exercise
• People with diabetes may sometimes experience low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia. To be prepared in the event of severe hypoglycemia, you should talk to your doctor about having an emergency glucagon kit available. It is important to treat low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) right away because it could get worse and your loved one could pass out (become unconscious). If they do pass out your loved one will need treatment with a glucagon injection or treatment at a hospital right away
• Keep glucose tablets in the medicine cabinet at home and carry them with you when you go out. They can be purchased at your local pharmacy
• Keep a travel checklist for things to bring on overnight trips or vacation. Your list may include:
  • Blood glucose meter
  • Test strips
  • Lancing device and lancets
  • Alcohol swabs and needles
  • Levemir® FlexPen®
  • Glucose tablets
  • Other diabetes medications
• Program the phone numbers of your loved one’s doctor and pharmacy into your cell phone
• Encourage your loved one to keep a medical ID card in his or her wallet or purse, or to wear a Medical Alert ID bracelet. These will help people know that your loved one has diabetes and provide important contact information in the event of an emergency