Older Adults and Diabetes: Preface.

Abstract

What do Tom Hanks, Paula Dean, Paul Sorvino, Randy Jackson, Mike Huckabee, Delta Burke, Billie Jean King, Patti Labella, Larry King, Drew Carey, and Earl “The Pearl” Monroe have in common, aside from being famous? They are all 50+ years of age and living with type 2 diabetes. Yes, when Hanks announced in 2013 that he has type 2 diabetes, he joined a growing list of celebrities and millions of other Americans with this diagnosis. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), nearly 26 million people in the United States are living with diabetes, and seniors have more diabetes than any other age-group; 10.9 million people ≥ 65 years of age (26.9%) have diabetes. Additionally, prediabetes is common, with an estimated 50% of people in this age-group affected.1 The elderly constitute the largest population seeking care for diabetes. Yet resources are marginal with regard to their particular diabetes care concerns, which are age-specific and often accompanied by multiple comorbidities. The quality of life for seniors living with diabetes can be affected by diabetes in many ways. Diabetes is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Cardiovascular disorders, retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy are complications that can lead to heart disease, blindness, end-stage renal disease, and lower-limb amputations, respectively. Depression is commonplace (a 60% increased risk for individuals with type 2 diabetes) and can complicate diabetes management.1 People with diabetes who are ≥ 60 years of age are two to three times more likely to report an inability to walk a distance of one-fourth of a mile, climb stairs, or do housework compared …