How Can Bergen County Families Support a Senior With Diabetes at Home?
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How Can Bergen County Families Support a Senior With Diabetes at Home?

Published On
November 5, 2026
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More than one in four U.S. adults age 60 and older has diabetes (27.3 percent), including 6.8 percent who do not know they have it, according to the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (August 2021 to August 2023).

For families in Teaneck, Englewood, Fort Lee, Tenafly and across Bergen County, November is American Diabetes Month, a good time to look at the everyday routines that help a senior with diabetes stay steady and safe at home. This article covers the daily routine, low blood sugar, foot checks, checkups and local help.

Quick answer: Help your loved one follow the plan from their doctor: medicines as prescribed, regular meals, blood sugar checks as directed and a look at their feet every day. Learn the signs of low blood sugar and what to do, and call 911 for loss of consciousness or a seizure.

Why does diabetes need extra attention later in life?

Because diabetes becomes more common with age, and some problems are easy to miss. The NIDDK lists age 65 or older as a risk factor for low blood sugar, along with kidney disease, heart disease, cognitive impairment and earlier episodes of low blood sugar. Diabetes can also damage nerves, often in the feet and legs, so a small cut or blister can go unnoticed.

What does a good daily routine look like?

It follows the doctor's plan and is simple enough to repeat every day. The CDC's diabetes care schedule lists these daily steps:

  • Check blood sugar as directed by the doctor, up to several times a day
  • Take diabetes medicines as prescribed, even when feeling good
  • Look at the feet for cuts, sores or redness
  • Get 30 minutes of moderate activity on most days, if the doctor agrees
  • Eat healthy foods that help blood sugar stay in the target range

A pill organizer, a phone alarm and a notebook for blood sugar readings can make the routine easier, and the notebook is handy to bring to appointments.

What should you do about low blood sugar?

Treat it right away, then recheck. The NIDDK says symptoms tend to come on quickly and can include shakiness, hunger, tiredness, dizziness, confusion, irritability, a fast heartbeat and headache. If blood sugar is below target or under 70 mg/dL, the NIDDK steps are:

  1. Take 15 to 20 grams of glucose or carbohydrate right away, such as four glucose tablets, one tube of glucose gel or 4 ounces of fruit juice that is not low-calorie.
  2. Wait 15 minutes and recheck. If it is still low, repeat step 1.
  3. Once blood sugar is back in range, eat a snack if the next meal is more than an hour away.

Severe low blood sugar, with loss of consciousness or a seizure, is an emergency. The NIDDK says helpers should call 911 right away after giving glucagon, or if no glucagon kit is available. Ask the doctor to confirm this plan for your loved one and whether they should keep a glucagon kit at home.

Why do daily foot checks matter?

Because nerve damage can hide pain, and a small cut can turn into a serious sore. The CDC advises: "Check your feet every day, even if they feel fine." Look for:

  • Cuts, sores, blisters and redness
  • Swelling, corns and calluses
  • Changes in skin or toenails

Use a mirror, or help from a family member, if your loved one cannot see the bottoms of their feet. The CDC also says not to go barefoot, not to soak the feet and not to cut corns or calluses at home. Tell the doctor right away about a new sore, a loss of feeling, or tingling, burning or pain.

Which checkups should stay on the calendar?

The CDC's schedule keeps these visits in view:

  • Every 3 or 6 months: an A1C test and a doctor visit (every 3 months if treatment has changed or goals are not being met, every 6 months if they are)
  • Every year: flu shot, kidney tests, cholesterol test, dilated eye exam, hearing check, complete foot check and dental exam Offer to keep a shared calendar and to go along to appointments.

When is it time to consider extra help at home?

Consider help when medicines, meals, blood sugar checks or appointments are being missed, when your loved one cannot check their own feet, or when caregiving is wearing out the family. Extra hands can keep the routine steady between doctor visits.

How can BrightStar Care of Teaneck help?

We help with the daily routines that keep your loved one comfortable and safe at home. Our services include companion care, personal care, help with daily activities and medication management, and our team also provides skilled nursing services such as wound care. We offer 24-hour care when it is needed, and all medical decisions stay with your loved one's doctor. Call (201) 483-8490 to talk through what support might look like for your family.

What local resources are available in Bergen County?

Bergen County and national groups can help families with information, benefits and education.

  • Bergen County Division of Senior Services, ADRC Information & Assistance, One Bergen County Plaza, 2nd Floor, Hackensack, 201-336-7474, seniors@co.bergen.nj.us
  • ADRC toll-free number listed by the New Jersey Division of Aging Services, 1-877-222-3737
  • American Diabetes Association Center for Information, 1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383), Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET

Frequently Asked Questions

Is diabetes more common in older adults?

Yes. In the CDC's 2021 to 2023 data, 27.3 percent of adults age 60 and older had diabetes, compared with 15.8 percent of all adults age 20 and older, and the rate rose with age.

What are the signs of low blood sugar in a senior?

Shakiness, hunger, tiredness, dizziness, confusion, irritability, a fast heartbeat and headache. Symptoms tend to come on quickly, so treat right away and call 911 for loss of consciousness or a seizure.

How often should a senior with diabetes have their feet checked?

At home every day, even if the feet feel fine, and with a complete foot check by a health care provider at least once a year, more often after past foot problems.

Can a home caregiver help a senior manage diabetes?

Yes, with daily routines, medication management and noticing changes, while the doctor makes all medical decisions.

Does BrightStar Care of Teaneck help seniors with diabetes at home?

Yes. We offer companion care, personal care, medication management, wound care and skilled nursing services, including 24-hour care. Call (201) 483-8490 to learn more.

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