Diabetes

Leader: Virginia Boccardi Tajana Pavic

Objectives

Effective diabetes management in older adults requires to take into account the complexity of the disease, its long duration, the heterogeneity of the patients regarding the pathophysiology of diabetes and the comorbidity and the increased risk of complications from interventions. Particularly we have to consider frailty risk and consequences and comorbidity. Therefore, the role of geriatricians is essential, in collaboration with other specialists and GPs, in setting best practice for the care of older patients.

In Europe a quarter of people with diabetes are older than 75y. This last decade several countries have proposed adaptations of guidelines for care for older people, mainly according to their health status. After the European Diabetes Working Party for Older People (EDWPOP) guidelines for treatment in frail and functionally dependent older people with diabetes, an international consensus statement has been published drawing the general particularities of diabetes care after 70y. The issues of caring frail older people with diabetes has been recently re-addressed with an IAGG consensus paper (International Association Geriatrics and Gerontology).

However, we have to go further in implementing tools to improve the care of older people with diabetes in primary care, in nursing homes and in critical situations.

We have to improve also the education for health for patients, family and caregivers and to obtain the input of patients themselves.

Activities

Essential Steps in Primary Care Management of Older People with Type 2 Diabetes - EuGMS-EDWPOP

Last year we have organized an open online meeting during the congress of Athens. We have presented the paper “Dexamethasone and Oxygen Therapy in Care Home Residents with Diabetes – A Management Guide and Algorithm for Treatment” in collaboration with EDWPOP that is available on the EuGMS site. We have also presented the guidelines for care of older people with diabetes in primary care also in collaboration with EDWPOP that is named “Essential Steps in Primary Care Management of Older People with Type 2 Diabetes;  A Position Statement on behalf of the European Geriatric Medicine Society (EuGMS) and the European Diabetes Working Party for Older People (EDWPOP) Collaboration “.  

We have submitted to the European geriatric journal a supplement proposal. The topic is the presentation of innovations in the field of diabetes in older people. 

Group Members

N° of Members: 17

Expected method of work

Annual meeting during the EuGMS conference, virtual digital meetings and e-mail

Planning of Meetings

Next Meeting 18th EuGMS International Congress, London September 28-30 - SIG Collateral Meeting - OPEN - SEPT 28th from 12.00pm to 01.30pm UK TIME

17th EuGMS International Congress, Athens October 11-13 - SIG Collateral Meeting - OPEN- OCT 12th from 11.00am to 12.30pm CEST
16th EuGMS International Congress, Athens October 7-9

Recent Pubblications

Dexamethasone and Oxygen Therapy in Care Home Residents with Diabetes – A Management Guide and Algorithm for Treatment