[Problems of the elderly, insulin injecting diabetic patients in ambulatory care]

Not announced visits with interviews and practical demonstrations in the homes of 106 insulin-treated diabetics above 60 years of age produced rather sad results. Less than half of these patients were able to inject themselves. With increasing age insulin dosage was less and less correct; two thirds of the patients older than 75 years injected wrong doses. If the injections were performed by medical staff of the "Sozialstation", every second patient received his morning dosage only after breakfast or without any perceivable time-schedule. Only 7.5% of the patients seen followed their prescribed diet strictly, but 51+?% of them applied one or more "alternative" cures. It is true that in these older diabetic patients metabolic control does not play the same decisive role quoad vitam and concerning late complications as in younger ones, but the results we obtained should motivate us to improve, simplify and intensify patient education in the hospital and perform more controls of the lessons taught (and learned?) in the doctor's office.