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Professor calls for tailored care in older people with diabetes

DCUK NewsBot

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Technology should be harnessed to ensure older people with diabetes receive personalised care, a leading professor has said. Professor Elbert S. Huang, Director of the Center for Chronic Disease Research and Policy at the University of Chicago, was speaking at a recent King's College London seminar, which explored ways to improve the care of older people with diabetes. He said that the reasons why older people with diabetes currently only receive generalised care include lack of time, inadequate support and problems with health systems. "We still don't appear to personalise diabetes care but advances in computing and electronic medical records may allow us to deliver personalised recommendations more easily through prediction, pharmacogenomics and preferences," he said. Prof Huang added that ways to rectify this issue include updating guidelines and raising performance measurements. Additionally he suggested that people with diabetes should provide more information about their diabetes ahead of consolations with their healthcare professional. Real-world data from clinical practice can supplement research from randomised clinical trials, and this approach, Prof Huang said, can help provide insights into subgroups of patients and help researchers understand the progression of diabetes in older age. In the last ten years Prof Huang has led a large body of research into the personalised care of older people with diabetes, including how to aid decision-making regarding their care. His talk 'What can we Learn from Big Data in the Study of Older People with Diabetes?' was delivered at the Diabetes Seminar event that took place at King's College London on Monday, March 19. The event was organised by professors Alan Sinclair, Director of Diabetes Frail, and Angus Forbes, Chair of Clinical Diabetes Nursing at King's College.

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I know that diabetic patients in their very old age are 'neglected with their diabetes needs' I hear it first hand from carers in care homes. 'They are fed, whatever they like'. I asked one recently "do they get tested before eating?" The answer was "no". I was scoffed for asking.
Obviously I'm the silly one, for asking if residents were looked after properly.
 
What the very old need is for their remaining life to be as pleasant as possible. Restricting what they can eat because it will affect them in the long term, when they don't have a long term, seems unfair.
 
Mr_Pot said:
What the very old need is for their remaining life to be as pleasant as possible. Restricting what they can eat because it will affect them in the long term, when they don't have a long term, seems unfair.
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That's what she said.
I guess I'm a little nieve in thinking it will improve their quality of life before death.
 
I visit an assisted living block and see the menu written up from the previous day. There are no dishes I would wish to eat. Life there would be dismal in the extreme. How it could be considered an enjoyable existence to eat such foods I really don't know. Pastry, mashed potato, rice all cheap stodge and no quality meat or fish to be had.
 
My dads nursing home is great - we picked a nursing home rather than a care home as they have to have district nurses come in to administer insulin where as the nursing home had its own nurses on duty all the time

They test dad before eating and give him his insulin- they then calculate what he can eat, they test again 2 hours later. He does eat a bit more freely than he used to when he was able to manage his own diabetes- he was a low carber - but even though he now eats a lot more carb than he used to his blood sugar control is spot on. He has a lot more issues now than just his diabetes so an holistic approach is best
 
My dads place has a proper big menu, we can eat there with him for a small donation and I have to say the food and choices are pretty good. They even do a full English if you fancy one. I do know what you mean though, he was in a couple of places before this one on a temporary basis until a place became available at his current one, the food was dire in one and average in the other, both places all round were very institutional whereas the place he is now is like a little hotel - staff are great too
 
If only the ideal world existed.....

I have numerous health problems but... I really need my diabetes on top form for my other problems to improve.
Is that why we get expensive insulin therapy from the nhs? To save life.

I'm very passionate that this report gets taken seriously.... for the sake of those who cannot speak for themselves.

I believe this is a positive thing.
The elderly are vulnerable but more importantly are individuals.
A more individual approach would be best. For all concerned.
 
My sister went in a terrible care home. She didn't want to go and although she had dementia she was perfectly able to recognise myself and my wife about ten days before she died.
She had stopped eating weeks before and they didnt even try to feed her and I asked for some food for her but she would not eat it. She stopped drinking later and death was relatively quick and merciful.
She was right down country and I had no control on the situation.

I would sooner go to dignitas.
 

Where is this? I would like to get my name down for when the time comes.
 
lovinglife said:
My dads nursing home is great - we picked a nursing home rather than a care home as they have to have district nurses come in to administer insulin where as the nursing home had its own nurses on duty all the time
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Unless the rules have changed in recent times, nursing homes are far more expensive, and Social Services will only contribute if the person is deemed to require NHS style nursing care for medical reasons as opposed to the type of care given in care homes (such as dressing, washing, feeding, medication, mobility needs etc.). The criteria for nursing home admission is quite stringent if Social Service contributions are required.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
Where is this? I would like to get my name down for when the time comes.
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It's part of the Barchester group so there may be one in your area! We have just come back from their Easter lunch, all family and friends invited for a donation- lovely 3 course Easter lunch, egg hunt, Easter bonnet comp and a Michael Buble tribute act (much to my son's disgust lol) - it's lovely to be able to do this as dad can't come to us anymore -
 
This includes insulin dependent diabetes as it has to be done by a nurse - and dad is yes they are far more expensive- dad is over the threshold so pays for it all himself, he is by no means rich basically just money from the sale of his house - I don't want to give exact amounts but if I say there's not much change from £4,500 a month then you'll get the idea!
 
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