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- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
http://drwf.org.uk/NewsSection/tabid/705/View/true/ParentId/430/Default.aspx
A new study is set to pave the way for improved standards in care homes for residents with diabetes after a world-leading expert in diabetes and older people claimed residents with diabetes in care homes are a ?vulnerable and often-neglected group?.
Professor Alan Sinclair, Director of the Institute of Diabetes for Older People (IDOP), spoke out following the results of a new study that showed focused care and education for residents with the condition can improve their health and well-being.
The study ?Diabetes in care homes: a cluster randomised controlled trial of resident education? was published in The British Journal of Diabetes & Vascular Disease, aimed to determine whether a short-term, patient-centred intervention strategy might benefit people with diabetes living in residential care homes.
Two groups of residents were studied totalling 103 people across 51 care homes. They each had a medical review and were given an individualised educational programme. Measurements of glycaemic control (fasting glucose and HbA1c), quality of life, functional ability, cognition, mood and diabetes knowledge were collected at the start and after six months.
During a six-month period, the tailored education resulted in residents reporting a better quality of life and mood, improved diabetes knowledge and a slight increase in a measurement of their blood sugar control ? HbA1c went from a mean value of 6.84% (1.54) to 7.49 % (1.82). Reports of hypoglycaemia were less at the end of the study.
Lead researcher, Professor Sinclair said: ?Residents of care homes with diabetes are a vulnerable group, lacking comprehensive assessment, monitoring, and specialist access. They are likely to have physical and mental frailty, multiple health problems and disabilities and consequently are generally excluded from diabetes clinical trials, yet represent a large and challenging group of patients.
?In this study, we saw benefits in patient-centred outcomes as a result of our intervention and in a frail group of patients these may assume greater importance than glycaemic improvement. However, more research needs to be performed with care home residents to develop the evidence base for appropriate interventions in this group of vulnerable and often-neglected patients.?
The key components of the education programme were an individualised approach, addressing topics deemed important by the resident as well as those always in the programme, with follow ups to check understanding and repetition if necessary.
■In a separate scheme to understand more about standards of diabetes care in care homes, the first-ever national Care Home Diabetes Audit was launched by IDOP in the autumn. The audit seeks to identify quality standards that can be picked up by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to be used for assessment of the quality of diabetes care being delivered in care home settings. The deadline for entry is 2 February. To download the form and free postage envelope visit: http://instituteofdiabetes.org/care-home-diabetes-audit
More information
IDOP website: http://instituteofdiabetes.org
A new study is set to pave the way for improved standards in care homes for residents with diabetes after a world-leading expert in diabetes and older people claimed residents with diabetes in care homes are a ?vulnerable and often-neglected group?.
Professor Alan Sinclair, Director of the Institute of Diabetes for Older People (IDOP), spoke out following the results of a new study that showed focused care and education for residents with the condition can improve their health and well-being.
The study ?Diabetes in care homes: a cluster randomised controlled trial of resident education? was published in The British Journal of Diabetes & Vascular Disease, aimed to determine whether a short-term, patient-centred intervention strategy might benefit people with diabetes living in residential care homes.
Two groups of residents were studied totalling 103 people across 51 care homes. They each had a medical review and were given an individualised educational programme. Measurements of glycaemic control (fasting glucose and HbA1c), quality of life, functional ability, cognition, mood and diabetes knowledge were collected at the start and after six months.
During a six-month period, the tailored education resulted in residents reporting a better quality of life and mood, improved diabetes knowledge and a slight increase in a measurement of their blood sugar control ? HbA1c went from a mean value of 6.84% (1.54) to 7.49 % (1.82). Reports of hypoglycaemia were less at the end of the study.
Lead researcher, Professor Sinclair said: ?Residents of care homes with diabetes are a vulnerable group, lacking comprehensive assessment, monitoring, and specialist access. They are likely to have physical and mental frailty, multiple health problems and disabilities and consequently are generally excluded from diabetes clinical trials, yet represent a large and challenging group of patients.
?In this study, we saw benefits in patient-centred outcomes as a result of our intervention and in a frail group of patients these may assume greater importance than glycaemic improvement. However, more research needs to be performed with care home residents to develop the evidence base for appropriate interventions in this group of vulnerable and often-neglected patients.?
The key components of the education programme were an individualised approach, addressing topics deemed important by the resident as well as those always in the programme, with follow ups to check understanding and repetition if necessary.
■In a separate scheme to understand more about standards of diabetes care in care homes, the first-ever national Care Home Diabetes Audit was launched by IDOP in the autumn. The audit seeks to identify quality standards that can be picked up by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to be used for assessment of the quality of diabetes care being delivered in care home settings. The deadline for entry is 2 February. To download the form and free postage envelope visit: http://instituteofdiabetes.org/care-home-diabetes-audit
More information
IDOP website: http://instituteofdiabetes.org