Cardiff University | Prifysgol Caerdydd ORCA
Online Research @ Cardiff 
WelshClear Cookie - decide language by browser settings

Self management and patient understanding of diabetes in the older person

Hewitt, J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7924-1792, Smeeth, L., Chaturvedi, N., Bulpitt, C. J. and Fletcher, A. E. 2011. Self management and patient understanding of diabetes in the older person. Diabetic Medicine 28 (1) , pp. 117-122. 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2010.03142.x

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

Aim To examine knowledge and management of diabetes by older people. Methods A representative sample of 1047 people with Type 2 diabetes, aged 75 years and over, were asked a series of questions relating to their diabetes management and their understanding of self management. The impact of cognitive impairment and socio‐economic status were assessed. Results The majority of people, 1015 (96.9%), were under the care of a health professional and 1018 (97.2%) were taking insulin, tablets, controlling their diet or a combination. Cognitive impairment (Mini‐Mental State Examination ≤ 23) was found in 235 (22.5%) people. Recent eye, foot and dietician assessment was reported by 813 (77.7%), 836 (79.7%) and 326 (31.1%) people, respectively. A quarter overall and 70% of those taking insulin tested their blood glucose. In the insulin group, 78 (54.2%) reported hypoglycaemia and those with cognitive impairment gave more incorrect responses when asked about diabetes management. Socio‐economic status made very little difference to any of these outcomes. Conclusions Most older people with diabetes, regardless of their socio‐economic status, are under the care of a healthcare professional and use medication or diet to manage their disease. Large numbers also attend foot and eye examinations. However, over one fifth of older people with diabetes have cognitive impairment. Older people had a reasonable understanding of their diabetes management but this was worse in those people with cognitive impairment.

Item Type: Article
Date Type: Publication
Status: Published
Schools: Medicine
Publisher: Wiley
ISSN: 0742-3071
Date of Acceptance: 16 July 2010
Last Modified: 26 Oct 2022 07:57
URI: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/126258

Citation Data

Cited 46 times in Scopus. View in Scopus. Powered By Scopus® Data

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item Edit Item