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Defeat Diabetes Foundation

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Diabetes Leads to Disability in Old Age

Posted: Thursday, October 21, 2004

Dr. Zoe Arvanitakis of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago stated that, "Diabetes is common and becoming more common and it's important to recognize that the disease does affect motor function and leads to disability."

As part of The Religious Orders Study, 922 older Catholic nuns, priests, and brothers underwent detailed medical exams yearly for up to 10 years. Diabetes was present in a total of 144 subjects (15.6%) at baseline.

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"Persons with diabetes started at a lower rate of motor function and also declined at a faster rate compared to persons without diabetes," she said. Twenty-seven percent of diabetics became dependent in at least one activity of daily living during follow up.

"Another important finding," Dr. Arvanitakis said, is that the risk of incident disability was 47% greater in diabetics than in nondiabetics.

Earlier this month, Dr. Arvanitakis reported results indicating that diabetes accelerates the progression of rigidity and gait disturbances in older persons. (see Diabetes In Control Issue #228).

These studies, she said, "reinforce that we need to identify diabetes early and treat it early to try to prevent disability."

Source: Diabetes In Control.com: