What is a Caregiver?

You might already be a caregiver—here’s what that can look like

A caregiver is anyone who helps another person manage their health, daily needs, or overall well-being—often without pay. You might be a caregiver if you:
  • Help a family member, partner, friend, or neighbor with everyday tasks
  • Coordinate or attend medical appointments
  • Manage medications or health-related needs
  • Provide emotional support, check-ins, or advocacy
  • Assist with household responsibilities or transportation
  • Step in regularly because someone relies on you
If you see yourself in any of these roles, you can identify as a family caregiver—even if you’ve never used that term before. Caregiving looks different for everyone, but every caregiver plays a vital role and deserves recognition and support.

The Caregiver’s Role

Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how the body regulates blood glucose (sugar), often requiring lifelong management of medications, diet, physical activity, and frequent monitoring. For caregivers, helping a loved one with diabetes means navigating a shifting landscape: from early diagnosis to managing complications to adapting care as health needs change. Equipping caregivers with the proper knowledge, tools, and emotional support is vital to ensuring that both the person with diabetes and the caregiver maintain the best possible quality of life.

Diabetes

Top 3 Things Caregivers Should Know

Monitoring & Medication Can Be Complicated, But They’re Key

Measuring blood sugar, understanding target ranges, managing medications (insulin or others), and responding to fluctuations (hyperglycemia / hypoglycemia) are central tasks. Mismanagement can lead to serious complications, so caregiver vigilance and coordination with health providers are crucial.

Lifestyle Support Is Often as Important as Medical Care

Nutrition, physical activity, meal timing, and emotional/mental health support all weave into diabetes care. Caregivers often play a huge role in helping loved ones eat well, stay active, plan for sick days, and maintain routines—while also adapting as the person’s condition evolves.

Preventing Burnout and Planning Ahead

Because diabetes is ongoing, caregiving for someone with it means balancing day-to-day tasks (monitoring, managing crises) with long-term concerns (complications, changes in capacity). Caregivers need to build a support network, set boundaries, educate themselves, and plan for emergencies or transitions (e.g. when more medical support is needed).

Caregiving Resources

Partner Resources

  • American Diabetes Association:

    > For Caregivers / Tools & Resources — A suite of supports for caregivers: understanding what to expect, how to advocate for care, school safety, emotional/social concerns, etc.

    > Newly Diagnosed with Diabetes — Guidance for caregivers in the early stages: what the diagnosis means, how to set up routines, how to support someone just starting out in managing diabetes.

    > Treatment & Care — Details on how diabetes is cared for over time: medication, glucose monitoring, involvement of the full health care team, and how care plans may need to shift.

Caregiver Action Network

This resource was developed with support from the American Diabetes Association.

Explore Your Community Support Options

Personalized Guidance from Caregiving Experts

Personalized Guidance from Caregiving Experts

Available Monday-Friday from 8am – 7pm ET, our experts are ready with the personalized support, guidance, and assistance you need and deserve–for as long as you need it.

(855) 227-3640

24/7 Access to Hundreds of Helpful Resources

24/7 Access to Hundreds of Helpful Resources

The National Caregiver Help Desk App, powered by Carallel, is full of bite-sized resources crafted to help you build skills, validate what you’re feeling, and help you get stuff done.

Use Access Code: CAN

Connection & Community with Other Caregivers

Expert-Led Virtual Fireside Chats

These 30-minute virtual fireside chats address the complex and often difficult topics encountered by caregivers. Sessions are led by Matt Perrin, Carallel’s Director of Caregiver Engagement, and Sheila Schultz, a Carallel Care Advocate.

Community with Other Caregivers

Community With Other Caregivers

Through CAN, Carallel Support Groups give you a place to ask questions, feel understood, and build confidence in your caregiving journey. Access is simple and available when you need it.

Certified Listeners

Connect with Certified Listeners

Looking for someone who really gets it? Get matched with trained listeners who share your lived experience—whether that’s caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, cancer, or another chronic condition.

Facebook Support Group for Caregivers

Online Support Group on Facebook

Join our caregiver community on Facebook to connect with thousands of peers in a welcoming, supportive space.
Ask questions, share experiences, and receive advice any time of day.

We’re meeting caregivers where they are—giving you choices for how you want to connect, whether through expert advice, peer-to-peer empathy, or live support groups.