Diabetes control in Swedish community dwelling elderly: more often tight than poor.
OBJECTIVE
To determine glycaemic control in elderly patients with diabetes living in community dwelling.


METHODS
Descriptive, cross-sectional and open. Prospective with regard to blood glucose.


METHODS
Community-dwelling in-patients.


METHODS
From a total number of 351 patients in seven Swedish centres of community dwelling we identified and recruited all 45 patients with diabetes receiving treatment with insulin, and/or oral medication.


METHODS
Blood glucose was measured fasting, 2 h after breakfast, in the evening and at night, for three consecutive days.


RESULTS
Mean HbA1c was 5.9 +/- 1.1% (range 3.6-8.6%). The patients were split in three HbA1c-groups for analysis: lower- (3.6-5.3%), middle- (5.4-6.3%) and higher-tertile (6.4-8.6%). The groups where similar with regard to age, time in community dwelling, ability to eat and move around independently, but body mass index was lower in the lower tertile (P < 0.003 and P < 0.04, compared with middle- and higher-tertiles). We recorded 14 episodes with blood glucose </=4.0 mmol L-1 in eight patients. Blood glucose </=4.0 mmol L-1 was mostly recorded during night (n = 8) or in the morning (n = 3).


CONCLUSIONS
Swedish patients with diabetes in community dwelling are over- rather than under-treated and have low HbA1c levels. Despite very regular eating habits and near total compliance with medication, hypoglycaemias are frequent and possibly linked to malnutrition.
Löfgren
U-B
UB
Department of Internal Medicine, Vrinnevi Hospital, Norrköping, Sweden.
Rosenqvist
U
U
Lindström
T
T
Hallert
C
C
Nystrom
F H
FH
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D016852:Housing for the Elderly; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011446:Prospective Studies
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin