The challenges of diabetes and older adults

Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects a disproportionate number of older adults and members of ethnic minorities. It is an illness that requires long-term active patient participation to maintain metabolic control and challenges both the patient and health care provider. The need for the patient to carry out daily self-care behaviors is no less important simply because the person is older. Older adults, however, experience unique challenges because of the physical and functional changes that may be imposed by the aging process and the prevalence of multiple chronic illnesses and complications. Because diabetes self-care is carried out within the context of all aspects of a person's life, it is important, then, for the health professional to recognize these social, functional, and psychological challenges. All aspects of physical, functional, and psychosocial status need to be taken into account, and diabetes education needs to be provided based on jointly identified goals, interests, abilities, and needs.