title: The Psychosocial Challenges and Care of Older Adults with Diabetes: "Can't Do What I Used To Do; Can't Be Who I Once Was".
abstract: The prevalence of diabetes is increasing in older populations worldwide. Older adults with diabetes have unique psychosocial and medical challenges that impact self-care and glycemic control. These challenges may include psychological factors such as depression or anxiety, social factors such loss of independence and removal from home environment/placement in a facility, and medical factors such as multiple comorbidities and polypharmacy. Importantly, these challenges interact and complicate the everyday life of the older adult with diabetes. Thus, timely identification and interventions for psychosocial and medical challenges are a necessary component of diabetes care. This review summarizes the current literature, research findings, and clinical recommendations for psychosocial care in older adults with diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens, OH, 45701, USA. beverle1@ohio.edu.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Beverly
authors.affiliation: Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA, USA.|Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.|Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Marilyn D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Ritholz
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens, OH, 45701, USA.
authors.forename: Chelsea
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.affiliation: Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA, USA.|Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Weinger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001786:Blood Glucose; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose
keywords: Aging; Depression; Diabetes; Diabetes distress; Psychosocial challenges