title: Insulin improves well-being for selected elderly type 2 diabetic subjects.
abstract: The effects of insulin therapy on patient well-being, treatment satisfaction and mood, and on carer strain were studied in 30 elderly Type 2 diabetic patients (age 73 +/- 7 (SD) yr) in poor glycaemic control on tablet therapy. A comparison group of ten poorly controlled patients who remained on oral agents was also studied. After 4 weeks of insulin treatment, there were significant improvements in mental health, role-emotional, role-physical (all P<0.05) and vitality (P<0.01) domains of the short form health survey (SF-36), and also in the diabetes treatment and satisfaction questionnaire (DTSQ) and geriatric depression scale (both P<0.01) compared to baseline. After 12 weeks, the improvements in mental health, social functioning and vitality (P<0.01 for all domains), and in the DTSQ were sustained. Carer strain was lower at 4 weeks. No changes in outcomes were seen in the comparison group. In selected elderly Type 2 diabetic patients, insulin treatment is associated with significant improvements in well-being, treatment satisfaction and mood, even without significant improvements in glycaemic control and without increase in carer strain. The SF-36 and DTSQ are sensitive to the benefits of the changes in the treatment for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Centre, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reza
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Towse
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Hendra
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged / Q000502:physiology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin