Reading Skills for Healthcare Workers

Patsy works as a nursing assistant in an assisted living center. She works with many residents who are on special diets. Several of the elderly residents have Type 2 diabetes. Today, Patsy is serving lunch to Caroline, a woman in her seventies. Caroline is on a special diet because she has diabetes. Patsy serves Caroline special meals so that Caroline’s blood sugar level remains stable throughout the day. People with diabetes should not eat too many foods like white bread, cakes, cookies, and soda that are high in carbohydrates.

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Patsy serves Caroline a turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread, a salad, an orange, and a granola bar. “Here’s your lunch, Caroline,” Patsy says. “Your favorite—turkey!”

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“Thank you, Patsy,” Caroline says. “That looks good.” Eating lean meats with whole grain bread is a good way to keep her blood sugar stable. She used to eat more cookies and sweets. Now she enjoys the fruit and healthy granola bars that Patsy serves her.

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Staying active is also important for people who have diabetes. Patsy knocks on Caroline’s door in the afternoon. She asks, “Caroline, would you like to go for a walk? Maybe you’d like to join the chair aerobics class that is starting soon.”

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“I’m ready for the aerobics class, Patsy!” says Caroline. By staying active and eating healthy foods, she feels better and her diabetes is under control.