Well-being and symptoms in elderly Type 2 diabetes patients with poor metabolic control: Effect of insulin treatment

✍ Scribed by Tovi, J ;Engfeldt, P

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 623 KB
• Volume: 15
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1357-8170
• DOI: 10.1002/pdi.1960150306

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

The effect of improved metabolic control on well‐being and symptoms, with insulin therapy, was investigated in elderly patients with Type 2 diabetes. They had secondary failure on oral therapy, but were without decompensation. A selfadministered well‐being questionnaire was used. Patients were randomised to insulin or oral treatment and followed for one year. Initially, diabetic patients (compared with hypertensive controls in the same age group) had significantly lower perception of well‐being and more symptoms of tension, depression and pain. After one year, metabolic control improved significantly in the insulintreated group [HbA~1~c fell from 9.3 (1.4)% to 7.3 (1.1)% (p<0.001)] but not in the sulphonylurea‐treated group [HbA~1~c was 9.1 (1.2)% at the start and 9.3 (1.6) % after one year (n.s.d.)]. Improved metabolic control was not associated with improvement in well‐being. Insulin therapy, however, reversed symptoms of hyperglycaemia without increasing symptoms of hypoglycaemia and thus seems safe to use in elderly diabetic patients.