Diabetes care for older people: a practical view on management

Diabetes can impose a substantial health burden on older people and their informal carers. If there is evidence of sub-optimal care planning, a lack of empowerment, or under-skilling of those delivering direct diabetes care to this group, independence of the individual will be under threat. This substantially increases the risk of a serious adverse outcome, for example hospital or care home admission. This article identifies the specific needs, treatments and assessments for functional loss and depression in older people with diabetes living in the community, those living in care homes and those in hospital. It also looks at end-of-life care and managing hypoglycaemia.