When you reach your senior years, it's more important than ever to take good care of your health when you have diabetes. If you have limited mobility or low energy, you may have problems getting to the pharmacy for medications, or you may have trouble making your meals. One solution is to move into an assisted living facility. You can be as independent as you want when you feel good, but when you need help, someone is available to make sure you're taken care of. Here are a few ways assisted living can help you manage your diabetes so you stay healthy for longer.

Meal Preparation

You know how important your diet is in the management of diabetes. When you live in an assisted living facility, you'll always have someone to supervise your nutrition and prepare your meals when you don't feel like doing it yourself. By eating on a regular schedule and eating a diabetic diet, you'll have a better chance of keeping your blood sugar levels normal. When your blood sugar is stabilized, you can avoid complications such nerve damage and cardiovascular disease. Also, you'll feel better and have more energy. That means you'll feel more like socializing and being active, which is important for your general health as you age.

Medication Supervision

Another aspect of managing your diabetes is taking your medication as prescribed. This gets more difficult as you age. You may forget to take your medication, or you may forget you took it and take it again. If you have problems with arthritis, it may be difficult for you to self-administer your diabetes drugs. When you are in an assisted living center, there is always someone present who can supervise your medication to make sure you take the correct dose on time. This is a very important consideration if you live alone. By moving into an assisted living facility, you'll always have someone watching out for your health.

Medical Care Management

Another problem you may encounter as you age is difficulty getting to your doctor's appointments. You may even have difficulty organizing your appointments and getting the care you need. Some assisted living facilities provide transportation to your doctor's office. Others can arrange transportation through services in your community to make sure you don't miss an appointment because you can't drive. In addition, the staff at the facility can help with blood glucose monitoring if you can't do it yourself. They can also monitor your overall health and notify your doctor if you become sick or if it appears your medications need adjusted.

While you'll be with other retirees if you move into a general senior living community, there won't be any medical supervision available for your diabetes. Moving into a nursing home provides medical care, but it may not be the ideal place for you if you want to stay as independent as possible. Assisted living bridges the gap between living on your own and moving into a nursing home. If you're still totally independent, you can care for yourself as usual, but you'll always have peace of mind that help is nearby if you need it.