Evaluation of the care received by older people with diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to explore the views of older people with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes on the care they received from healthcare professionals.


METHODS
Twenty five people aged between 72 and 84 with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes participated in telephone interviews.


RESULTS
Data analysis identified four main themes: healthcare professionals' consideration of patients' financial difficulties; being treated like an individual; healthcare professionals' understanding of the type of diabetes experienced by patients; and how impaired cognitive function affects diabetes self-management.


CONCLUSIONS
Older people with diabetes should be treated as individuals by staff. Care should take into consideration: the patient's knowledge of the condition; the type of diabetes experienced and its duration; and identify any problems the patient may have with self-management.
School of Health and Social Care, University of Greenwich. drvwilson@gmail.com
Valerie
V
Wilson
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000628:therapy*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013222:State Medicine; D006113:United Kingdom