title: Self-perceived health and symptoms of elderly persons with diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance.
abstract: The aim of this study was to describe self-perceived health and symptoms of elderly persons with diabetes mellitus (DM) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and to explore whether there are special symptoms associated with undiagnosed DM or IGT. The study population consisted of community-living northern Finnish persons aged 70 years of over (n=379). Poor self-perceived health and high number of symptoms were most common among previously diagnosed diabetic persons. Undiagnosed diabetes and especially IGT did not predict poorer self-perceived health or higher number of symptoms compared with non-diabetic status. We conclude that in older subjects neither undiagnosed diabetes nor IGT can be traced by worsened health perceptions or on the basis of symptoms.
authors.affiliation: University of Oulu, Department of Public Health Science and General Practice, Aapistie 1, 90220 Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hiltunen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keinanen-Kiukaanniemi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Laara
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Kivela
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003863:Depression; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012649:Self Concept