Related Experiment Videos
The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes and its associated health problems in a community-dwelling elderly population
J Hewitt1, L Smeeth, C J Bulpitt
1Portsmouth Hospitals Trust, Portsmouth, UK. jonathan.hewitt@porthosp.nhs.uk
Aims:
Prevalence estimates of Type 2 diabetes and its associated health problems in elderly populations are rare, especially in the very elderly.
Methods:
A sample of 15 095 community-dwelling older people aged > or = 75 years were assessed. Type 2 diabetes and associated health problems were identified using self-reporting, general practitioner records, drug histories, and blood and urine measurements.
Results:
There were 1177 people identified as having Type 2 diabetes mellitus, giving an overall prevalence of 7.8% (95% confidence interval 7.1, 8.5), 9.4% (8.4, 10.5) for men and 6.8% (6.1, 7.6) for women. The age, sex and smoking adjusted odds ratios for various health problems, comparing people with and without diabetes were: low vision 1.6 (1.3, 1.9), proteinuria 1.7 (1.4, 2.1), chronic kidney disease stage 4 or 5 1.5 (1.0, 2.1), angina 1.3 (1.1, 1.6), myocardial infarction 1.5 (1.2, 1.8), cerebrovascular event 2.0 (1.8, 2.1) and foot ulceration 1.7 (1.2, 2.4).
Conclusions:
The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes is not high in community-dwelling older people, but diabetes was a contributory factor to a number of health problems.
Related Concept Videos
Type II Diabetes II: Pathophysiology
Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
Type II Diabetes Mellitus III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis
Type II Diabetes I: Introduction
Carbohydrate Metabolism
Starch accounts for approximately 60% of the carbohydrates consumed by humans. Since amylase enzymes cannot function in the stomach's acidic environment, starch can only be digested in the mouth and small intestine. Simple sugars are found naturally in milk and fruits in the...