SELF-PERCEIVED HEALTH AND SYMPTOMS OF ELDERLY PERSONS WITH DIABETES AND IMPAIRED GLUCOSE-TOLERANCE

The aim of this study was to describe self-perceived health and sympto ms of elderly persons with diabetes mellitus (DM) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and to explore whether there are special symptoms asso ciated with undiagnosed DM or IGT. The study population consisted of c ommunity-living northern Finnish persons aged 70 years or over (n=379) . Poor self-perceived health and high number of symptoms were most com mon among previously diagnosed diabetic persons. Undiagnosed diabetes and especially IGT did not predict poorer self-perceived health or hig her number of symptoms compared with non-diabetic status. We conclude that in older subjects neither undiagnosed diabetes nor IGT can be tra ced by worsened health perceptions or on the basis of symptoms.