Volume 4 | Issue 1 | January-March 2019
21
Dr. Monika Kundu Srivastava is an
experienced Occupational Therapist
with specialization in Neurologic
conditions. She is currently working
in a hospital set-up. Besides being a
clinician, Monika is also an experienced
writer and editor.
It is essential that any person with a
chronic condition such as diabetes
continues to lead a normal life. This
helps retain a meaning and purpose
to their lives. Helping the person with
diabetes plan and maintain a routine
which has time slots for all essential
elements in the care of diabetes
such as mealtime, when to take the
medication, exercise, work and leisure
activities, is one of the most important
areas of Occupational Therapy.
Helping the person understand that
there are various ways that one can
maintain one’s independence without
compromising on the quality of life
or safety is the key to living with
diabetes. All that is required is a little
discipline and lots of care.
Occupational
therapists
also
prescribe, train and educate persons
with diabetes on suitable household
as well as environmental adaptations.
For example, a person with diabetic
retinopathy - a complication when
the blood vessels of the retina in the
eye get damaged leading to loss of
vision - is prescribed, trained and
educated in the use of visual aids
such as magnifying glasses and using
close circuit TV. The importance of
reducing glare, using contrast images,
bright colours and appropriate
lighting to improve the seeing ability
is emphasized. These methods are
also incorporated at doors, stairs and
other potential fall areas.Organizing
things around the house so the patient
can easily find things helps not only
patients with vision impairments but
also patients with memory issues.
REDUCING RISKS
Wound healing takes longer in a
person with diabetes. Hence, it
is important to reduce the risk of
injuries at all times. An occupational
therapist can carry out a ‘floor
slipperiness’ assessment, incident
and injury survey, and hazard
surveillance to reduce the risk of
an injury or a fall. For example, a
person with diabetic neuropathy
- complication which causes the
nerves to be affected resulting in less
feeling in terms of pain, temperature
(hot or cold) or pressure (tight or
loose). Such a person is at a major
risk of getting injured. Burns during
cooking are common as the person
is unable to feel a ‘hot’ utensil. A
simple modification like microwave
cooking/heating or using protective
gloves can prevent any foreseeable
injury. Removing potential hazards
such as loose wires and carpets in
addition to wearing slip-resistant
footwear and placing non-skid mats
at strategic places can prevent falls.
PROBLEM SOLVING
A person with diabetes sometimes
might even feel helpless. Helping him
or her to become a problem solver is
an important component to ensure
independence for a longer duration of
time. This means that instead of always
looking around for someone else to
do your job or find a solution for a
challenge simply ‘DO IT YOURSELF’.
For example, if you are unable to go
grocery shopping by yourself, think
about home delivery options. So, all
you need to do is pick up the phone
and call your local grocery seller or
order online!
COPING IN A HEALTHY MANNER
Persons with diabetes have to face
the challenge of living their lives with
the knowledge that their condition
is incurable. This can have a major
psychological impact on the person.
With information on the disease
available freely, a person may be
overwhelmed by the complications
that might occur. Family members
need to be supportive in order to
ensure that the person with diabetes
follows the treatment prescribed and
stays positive about his or her future.
Increasing awareness to the family
members is crucial for prevention
of
complications.
Participating
in activities that are purposeful,
nurturing a hobby, spending time
with loved ones, doing the mundane
but important things of life such
as ironing, dusting helps maintain
a routine and is crucial for a good
quality of life.
Reminders in the form of alarms
(phone and clock) are both useful.
Keeping your medicines at a place
where you can see them is crucial to
compliance. Making a checklist and
ticking each item off as you complete
the task on a daily basis can also
help elderly persons who may have
memory issues. Family members too
have a major role to play in monitoring
and taking medication. ‘Cheating’
on food issues reduces drastically
if someone else is monitoring and
if the foods to be avoided are kept
either out of reach of the person (for
example, under lock and key) or not
kept in the house at all.