What Seniors Should Eat When They Have Diabetes

By Jessica Ott | December 6, 2024 |

A diet is so important for a senior to focus on but it is something that many seniors choose to disregard or something they forget to focus on completely. A senior may need help when it comes to cooking or preparing meals and luckily this is something that family caregivers or in-home care providers can help with. If your senior loved one wants to age in place they will need to focus on finding the right foods to eat, especially if they are struggling with chronic health conditions, like diabetes. Some seniors may need more help than this and that’s when in-home care can be a huge help because these professionals can truly help your senior loved one age in place.

Here are some things a senior should be eating if they have diabetes.

Aim for Fresh Vegetables

In-Home Care Spring Grove PA – What Seniors Should Eat When They Have Diabetes?

Vegetables are healthy for seniors because they are filled with vitamins and minerals that a senior needs. Vegetables are low in calories but can be filling, and high in fiber, and all of that can help manage blood sugar levels. Vegetables are essential to a well-balanced diet but they are something that seniors often neglect. They may not be able to eat raw vegetables because they are too hard to digest but baking them may also be a challenge for them. If your loved one needs help like this at home, as they age in place, this is something that in-home care can help with.

Snack on Fruit

Craving sugar happens, craving a sweet dessert can be all-consuming. A senior may not want to give up their sweets and they should not have to but they may also need to shift the focus of how they view sweets. Instead of eating candies, sweets, or cookies, they should find more natural alternatives. Like eating berries or peaches for dessert. This means they are getting fresh foods filled with vitamins and minerals but also getting natural sugars that can help them curb their cravings for sugary snacks.

Lean Protein

A senior should be eating tons of chicken, turkey, tuna, or other types of fish. These types of proteins tend to be low in calories, high in protein, and low in fats. This can help maintain how full a senior feels but it can also help regulate their blood sugar. Meat needs to be thoroughly cooked and as a senior gets older they may want to cook less and less. This is something that in-home care can help with and they can keep note of how much protein a senior is eating. If they are not eating enough it can impact their diabetes but also other things like muscle mass and energy levels.

Whole Grains

Everyone loves pasta but not all grains are considered equal. If your senior mom or dad wants carbs and grains they need to be eating whole grains. This is because it has more fiber which can help a senior maintain blood sugar levels and also keep it even throughout the day. The more fiber something has the slower the sugar is released into the bloodstream which helps keep it constant and helps reduce blood sugar surges throughout the day.

**If you or an aging loved one are considering In-Home Care Services in Spring Grove PA, please get in touch with us. Our friendly staff can answer all of your questions. In-Home Senior Care in Adams and York Counties, PA. Call Today: (717) 698-8258.**

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Jessica Ott

Owner at A Helping Hand Home Care Services, LLC

Jessica Ott is the Owner at A Helping Hand Home Care Services, LLC.

A Helping Hand Home Care Services, LLC is dedicated to providing our clients with a better quality of life through our support services while maintaining their independence in the comfort of their own home.

As a Home Care Agency licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, we can provide families with peace of mind, knowing their loved one is in good hands.

We will work with you to prepare a care plan that incorporates your needs, your wishes, and your preferred schedule. Each client is matched with a caregiver who can best meet their individual needs, whether they reside in a house, apartment, condominium, assisted living, or nursing community.