SENSORIMOTOR FUNCTION IN OLDER PERSONS WITH DIABETES

Twenty-five persons with diabetes (aged 55-83 years) who were living i ndependently in the community, and 40 age- and sex-matched non-diabeti c controls were assessed for tactile sensitivity, vibration sense, pro prioception, quadriceps strength and body sway. In both men and women, those with diabetes performed significantly worse in tests of body sw ay on firm and compliant surfaces compared with the control subjects a fter controlling for weight and body mass index. The female diabetic s ubjects also performed significantly worse in tests of peripheral sens ation and strength compared with controls. Age-related declines in sen sori-motor function were greater in the diabetic group (r = 0.55-0.75) than in the controls (r < 0.44), while within the diabetic group, dur ation of diabetes and vibration sense were significantly correlated wi th sway on a compliant (foam rubber) surface with the eyes open (parti al r = 0.52, p < 0.01 and r = 0.55, p < 0.01, respectively). The study findings provide evidence that older people with diabetes have proble ms with stability and related sensori-motor factors which may place th em at increased risk of falls.