Pharmacologic treatment of diabetes in long-term care

The majority of patients with diabetes are elderly, but little is known abo ut their disease management. This study evaluates the prevalence and correl ates of treatment of elderly diabetics residing in long-term care. We perfo rmed a retrospective, cross-sectional study of 75,829 elderly diabetics res iding in nursing homes from 1992 to 1996. Nearly half (47%) of the resident s received no antidiabetic medications. Independent predictors not receivin g antidiabetic medications included age, race, impaired physical ability, a nd impaired cognitive function. Although the absence of resident's blood gl ucose or glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) values prevents us from passing ju dgment about the adequacy of diabetic care, further research is needed to u nderstand why some residents do not receive antidiabetic medications in the long-term care setting. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved .