Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2025
12:59
Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People
Published on: July 5, 2017
12.5K
Food Insecurity and Diabetes Insulin Adherence Among Older Adults
Lucas R Prieto1, Rainier D Masa2, Megumi Inoue1
1Department of Social Work, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA.
Journal of Nutrition in Gerontology and Geriatrics
|October 10, 2024
Summary
Food insecurity is linked to lower insulin adherence in older adults with diabetes. Those facing food insecurity were more likely to take less insulin or delay purchasing it, highlighting a critical public health concern.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Food insecurity disproportionately affects older adults in the U.S.
- Rising diabetes prevalence in older adults necessitates effective insulin management
- The impact of food insecurity on insulin adherence in this demographic remains understudied
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between food insecurity and insulin adherence among U.S. adults aged 55 and older with diabetes
- To identify factors associated with insulin non-adherence in food-insecure older adults with diabetes
Main Methods:
- Secondary data analysis of the 2021 National Health Interview Survey
- Multivariable logistic regression models were employed
- Focus on adults aged 55+ with diabetes, examining food security status and insulin adherence behaviors
Main Results:
- Food insecurity was significantly associated with taking less insulin than prescribed and delaying insulin purchases
- Homeownership and higher income-to-poverty ratios showed inverse associations with insulin non-adherence behaviors
- Certain racial/ethnic minority groups demonstrated lower rates of skipping doses or taking less insulin compared to White individuals
Conclusions:
- Food insecurity is a critical factor influencing insulin adherence in older adults with diabetes
- Healthcare providers should consider food security status when recommending insulin therapy
- Interventions addressing food insecurity may improve diabetes management outcomes in older populations
Related Concept Videos
01:16Insulin: Dosing Regimen and Adverse Effects
152
Insulin-replacement therapy usually includes both long-acting insulin (basal) and short-acting insulin (to cater to postprandial needs). In a diverse group of type 1 diabetes patients, the average daily insulin dose is typically 0.5-0.7 units/kg body weight. However, obese patients and pubertal adolescents may need more due to insulin resistance.
The basal dose constitutes about 40%-50% of the total daily dose, with the rest as premeal insulin. The mealtime insulin dose should mirror...
The basal dose constitutes about 40%-50% of the total daily dose, with the rest as premeal insulin. The mealtime insulin dose should mirror...
152
01:15Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications
512
For most patients, experiencing several weeks of polyuria, polydipsia, fatigue, and significant weight loss may indicate the presence of diabetes. Furthermore, adults displaying the phenotypic appearance of type 2 diabetes (particularly those who are obese and not initially insulin-requiring), may have islet cell autoantibodies, suggesting autoimmune-mediated β cell destruction and a diagnosis of latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA). The categorization of glucose homeostasis is...
512
01:22Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype
2.5K
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose levels due to inadequate insulin production, insulin resistance, or both. The condition affects millions worldwide and can significantly impact their health and quality of life.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
2.5K
01:36Carbohydrate Metabolism
10.8K
Carbohydrates are polymers composed of molecules containing atoms of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. One gram of carbohydrate can provide four kilo-calories of energy, which makes it the most efficient instant energy source.
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...
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...
10.8K
01:22Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
2.2K
Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
2.2K
01:15Hypoglycemia and Glucagon
164
Without prolonged fasting, healthy individuals maintain blood glucose levels above 3.5 mM due to a well-adapted neuroendocrine counterregulatory system that effectively prevents acute hypoglycemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. The primary clinical scenarios for hypoglycemia encompass diabetes treatment, inappropriate production of endogenous insulin or insulin-like substances by tumors, and the use of glucose-lowering agents in non-diabetic individuals. Notably, hypoglycemia in the...
164