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Early declines in physical function among aging adults with type 2 diabetes
Cynthia Fritschi1, Ulf Gunnar Bronas1, Chang G Park2
1Department of Biobehavioral Health Science, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing, Chicago, IL.
Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications
|July 25, 2016
Summary
Physical function declines early in type 2 diabetes (T2DM), with different predictors before and after age 59. Tailored therapies are crucial for managing T2DM-related physical decline.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Endocrinology
- Physical Therapy
Background:
- Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is linked to diminished physical function and premature disability.
- Physical function changes may occur early in T2DM and vary with age.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine and compare differences in physical function between older and younger adults with T2DM.
- To identify predictors of physical function in different age groups within the T2DM population.
Main Methods:
- Eighty adults with T2DM underwent six-minute walk distance (6MWD) tests and wore wrist actigraphy for five days.
- Diabetes health and symptom surveys were completed. Comparative and bivariate analyses, including Box's M-plot, assessed age-group differences.
Main Results:
- Six-minute walk distance (6MWD) was low and associated with female gender, age, neuropathic pain, diabetes duration, BMI, poor sleep quality, and fatigue.
- Predictors of 6MWD differed by age: gender, sleep quality, and neuropathic pain for those under 58; diabetes duration, education, and habitual activity for those 59 and older.
- No shared predictors of 6MWD were found between the age groups.
Conclusions:
- Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is associated with early physical function declines, with predictors shifting during midlife.
- Therapeutic strategies to enhance or preserve physical function in T2DM should be individualized based on age, pain, and activity levels.
Keywords:
Diabetes complicationsDiabetes symptomsPhysical activityPhysical function testingSix-minute walk distanceMore Related Videos
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