Diabetes care at home

At-home diabetes care, built around you

Is living with diabetes making daily life more difficult? Do you want to get out more, spend more time with family or simply get a bit of extra assistance at home? We can help.

At Novus Care, we’ve spent years supporting people with diabetes at home. We’re here to give you just the right amount of help to stay independent and do more of the things you love.

When you choose our diabetes home care services, you get one-to-one care from a dedicated carer in your own home. That could include help preparing meals that fit your diet plan, an extra helping hand with chores or even 24/7 support from a live-in carer.

It’s all about helping you enjoy a better quality of life in the home you love. No pressure. No fixed routines. Just tailored support from a highly trained carer who understands your condition and your outlook on life.

What is diabetes home care?

Diabetes home care is a type of specialist at-home support tailored for people living with diabetes. Diabetes affects everyone differently.

That’s why our care is also highly personalised. We work with you to find the right care routine for you, whether it’s support with nutrition, help with housework or something more involved.

Our aim is to give you the support you need to live well with diabetes at home, no matter how much it affects your life.

Our diabetes home care services

Live-in diabetes care at home

If you need around-the-clock support for diabetes or another health condition, live-in care might suit you. We’ll send a hand-picked, highly trained carer to live with you 24/7, so there’ll always be help athand when you need it. People often choose this option if diabetes severely affects their day-to-day lives– for instance, if they have mobility issues, vision loss or other diabetes-related complications. However, it can provide extra peace of mind for anyone – and for your family, too.

Visiting diabetes home care

With visiting diabetes care, you get to choose when your carer visits and how often. It could be for as little as 30 minutes each week, all the way up to several visits a day. It’s a flexible kind of care that lets you keep your own routine and maintain independence, while still getting the extra support you need. As with all our care, we’ll pair you with a carer we think will make a great companion for you.

Diabetes respite care

Family carers need to take breaks from time to time. That’s where respite care can help. It’s a temporary care service where we send a highly trained carer to step in while your usual carer is away. Respite care can last for as little as two weeks, but we’ll be careful to maintain the routine and support you’re used to. Alternatively, you could choose respite care if you want to trial diabetes care at home but aren’t sure what you want to do long-term.

Overnight diabetes care

Overnight care provides extra support and peace of mind for you and your family at night. We’ll send a carer to sleep over (sleeping night care) or stay awake through the night (waking night care). In any case, they’ll be ready to help if something goes wrong or if you just need a little assistance.

Companionship care

Our carers make excellent companions. If living with your condition makes it hard to get out or socialise, our carers can offer company, reassurance and a listening ear. Companionship care might also suit you if you’re independent but need an extra boost of confidence at appointments, social events or just in day-to-day life.

If you’re not sure which type of care is the best fit for you, we can help. Get in touch with our team for a friendly chat about your options.

Your diabetes care plan

When you choose Novus Care, one of the first things we’ll do is create a diabetes care plan. This makes sure all your needs are covered, from medication to food preferences.

Your independence and well-being are our top priorities. We’ll only step in when you ask or it’s needed ,so you can live life your way – no matter how diabetes affects you. Your day-to-day care might include:

• Household help: if diabetes makes it difficult to keep on top of housework, we can step in to help with tidying, mopping, laundry and other household tasks.

• Diet and nutrition support: we’re here to support your whole health, including your diet. Your carer can prepare healthy, nutritious meals tailored for a diabetes diet.

• Help with exercise: do you want to be more active? Your carer can encourage you to exercise, go with you on walks and even help with physiotherapy exercises.

• Medical support: we can administer medication (not injectable medication), collect prescriptions and help you look after your health.

• Getting out and about: if mobility or anxiety make it hard to get out of the house, we can accompany you to appointments, social events, shopping trips and more.

• Caring for pets: many of our carers are animal lovers. They’ll be delighted to help you look after your animal companions.

• Personal care: sometimes, complications of diabetes make it difficult to wash, dress or use the toilet. We’ll provide gentle assistance while respecting your dignity.

The benefits of diabetes care at home

Fully regulated care across all of England

Novus Care is a family-run care agency with more than 10 years’ experience providing diabetes in-homecare. Our flexible care services are available in every town and village across England, so we’re ready to help – wherever you are.

We’re registered with the Care Quality Commission. This is the government body that regulates homecare services in England. The CQC conducts unannounced visits to check the quality of our care. For you,that means peace of mind that you’re getting the best possible support.

That’s all thanks to our wonderful carers. Hand-picked by us and trained in diabetes care, they’re warm,dedicated people who truly care about the work they do. When you meet them, you’ll understand why we’re so proud of them.

Your diabetes home care questions answered

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition where the body can’t properly process glucose (sugar) for energy. That means people living with diabetes must take special care to manage their blood sugar to avoid dangerous blood sugar spikes. This could be with medication (e.g. insulin, metformin), lifestyle changes (e.g. diet, exercise) or both.

There are two main types of diabetes:

• Type 1 diabetes, where the body can’t produce insulin at all. People living with type 1 diabetes rely on insulin injections to survive.

• Type 2 diabetes, where the body can’t produce enough insulin or stops responding to insulin properly. Around six million people are living with diabetes in the UK. An estimated 90% of those cases are type 2 diabetes.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?
Common symptoms of diabetes include:

• Tiredness
• Being very thirsty
• Urinating often
• Cuts that take a long time to heal
• Unexplained weight loss
• Yeast infections (thrush)

Without proper treatment, diabetes can cause serious complications. That includes vision loss, mobility problems, kidney damage and an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

What causes type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is caused when the body’s immune system stops functioning properly and starts attacking the cells that produce insulin. Experts don’t know exactly why this happens, but we do know that genetics play a part.

Unlike type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes is not caused by diet or lifestyle. It most often develops in childhood or teenage years.

What causes type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes happens when the body stops responding to insulin properly. To begin with, it over produces insulin to compensate. Eventually, however, it stops being able to produce enough insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels.

Type 2 diabetes is most common in people aged 45 and over. Several factors can cause it, including diet, exercise and carrying excess body weight, as well as genetics.

How can I care for a diabetic patient at home?
It depends on the person and how much diabetes affects their day-to-day life. Some people can manage their diabetes with little or no help, while others need extra support.

Ways that you can help include:

• Monitoring blood sugar levels

• Helping to administer medication and manage medication schedules

• Encouraging a balanced, healthy diet and regular exercise

• Knowing what to do in a blood-sugar emergency

And remember, we’re here to help if you need it. Our carers undergo specialist training and know how to care for a diabetic patient at home. It can be very reassuring knowing there’s a trained person around to help keep your loved one safe.

Can I get help to pay for diabetes care at home?
Some people living with diabetes qualify for social care funding. You’ll need to apply for a free care assessment with your local council. If you qualify, you may receive funding towards your care. This funding is means-tested, so the amount of support you get depends on your financial circumstances.

Learn more about ways to fund your care.

How to arrange diabetes care at home

you ready to get the support you need to live well with diabetes? Get in touch with our friendly team today. Whether you have questions about how our care works or you want to book a diabetes home care trial, we can help.

Tel: 0800 138 4030 or email:  [email protected]