Middle-aged people with diabetes may age sooner than those without diabetes, according to new U.S. research published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. Those with diabetes in their 50s often experienced aging problems before their time, but by the age of 80 the differences had balanced out.
The study was conducted by researchers at University of Michigan and found that adults between 51 and 70 years of age encountered geriatric conditions before their non-diabetes counterparts. They experienced cognitive impairment, incontinence, vision loss, dizziness, falls, and pain at an earlier age.
"Because diabetes affects multiple organ systems, it has the potential to contribute significantly to the development of a number of issues that we associate with aging, said lead author of the study, Christine Cigolle, M.D. M.P.H.
Those in the 51-60 age group in particular had double the chances of developing those geriatric conditions. By the time both groups reached 80, their paces had evened out.
Cigolle went on to explain how the new information will be useful for treating those with diabetes.The findings suggest that adults with diabetes should be monitored for the development of these conditions beginning at a younger age than we previously thought, said Cigolle. If we know to start looking for these conditions earlier, we can manage and treat them more effectively, she added.
