Live-in care for diabetes

Not as a routine part of the role. Insulin is usually given by the person themselves, with the carer prompting and helping to set up, or by a district nurse. In some cases a health professional can formally delegate the task to a named carer and train and check them, and we'll discuss this honestly with you. The carer will always follow the diabetes plan and tell the nurse or GP about any concerns.

They follow the hypo plan your loved one's diabetes team has given you, such as offering a sugary drink or glucose tablets, then a snack, and checking again as advised. If your loved one becomes drowsy, confused or unable to swallow, the carer calls 999. Every episode is recorded and shared with the family and diabetes nurse, so the plan can be reviewed and future hypos prevented.

Live-in care for diabetes starts from £1,090 a week paid to the carer, plus our weekly agency fee of £250, and a one-off registration fee of £250. The household also provides the carer's food and a private room. The exact weekly rate depends on how much help is needed, especially at night, and we confirm it after a free assessment call, with no long contracts. Our cost page and cost calculator show how live-in care compares with a care home.

Yes. Carers cook to the dietary advice your loved one has been given, with regular balanced meals, sensible portions and healthy snacks, and help with shopping and planning so the right food is in the house. Regular mealtimes help keep blood sugar steady. If your loved one also has other conditions, such as kidney or heart problems, the carer follows all the dietary advice together.

Carers help with daily foot checks, washing and drying carefully between the toes, moisturising and making sure shoes fit well, because foot problems can develop quickly with diabetes. They report any cuts, colour changes, swelling or sores to the family and GP straight away. Nail cutting and treatment of foot problems are done by a podiatrist, and the carer can help arrange appointments.

Carers can remind and help your loved one to check their blood sugar or read their sensor, and keep a record for the diabetes team. Where a health professional has trained them, they can help with the monitoring itself. They don't change insulin or medication doses; any adjustments are made by the GP or diabetes nurse, who the carer will contact if readings are outside the agreed range.

Medicare People currently provides introductory live-in care services. We have submitted our application to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and intend to introduce a fully managed live-in care service following registration. As an introductory agency, we find, check and introduce self-employed live-in carers, and the family agrees the day-to-day care with the carer directly. Before any introduction we carry out right-to-work, DBS and reference checks and interview every carer. Our team stays in touch after the carer starts, arranges relief cover for breaks and holidays, and finds a replacement carer if the match isn't working.