Debilitating Ailments More Common In People Who Develop Diabetes in Their 50's

Debilitating Geriatric Ailments

More Common in Patients Who

Develop Diabetes in Their 50s

Middle-aged adults
with diabetes are much
more likely to develop

age-related conditions

than otherpeople who

don't have diabetes.

These are the findings of a new study by the University
of Michigan Health System and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare
System.

Adults between 51 and 70 with diabetes developed

age-related ailments like cognitive impairment,

incontinence, falls, dizziness, vision impairment and
pain at a faster rate than those without diabetes, the
study found. Results were published in the March issue
of the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

"Our findings suggest that middle age adults with
diabetes start to accumulate these age-related problems,"

said researchers from the family medicine and internal

medicine at the U-M Medical School and scientists at the
VA. "Because diabetes affects multiple organ systems, it
has the potential to contribute significantly to the
development of a number of issues that we associate
with aging."

For adults aged 51-60 with diabetes, the likelihood of
developing new geriatric conditions were nearly double

those of individuals who didn't have diabetes, the

researchers found. Interestingly, by the time people
with and without diabetes reach 80, the overall effects
of aging and impact of other diseases begin to reduce
the disparities between the two groups.

The research was based on nationally representative
data from the University of Michigan Health and

Retirement Study.

"The findings suggest that adults with diabetes should
be monitored for the development of these conditions

beginning at a younger age than we previously thought,"
report researchers from U-M Institute of Gerontology.

"If we know to start looking for these conditions earlier,
we can manage and treat them more effectively," they

add.

Sources and Funding:

The research was supported by the National Institute
on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Ann Arbor VA
Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center,
John A. Hartford Foundation Center of Excellence in
Geriatrics at the University of Michigan and Claude D.
Pepper Older Americans Independence Center at the
University of Michigan.

Editor's Note: This article is not intended to provide medical advice,

diagnosis or treatment.