Type 1 diabetes through the challenges of dementia: a case series
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15277/bjd.2025.488Keywords:
type 1 diabetes, dementia, cognitive impairmentAbstract
Medical advances continue to improve the life expectancy of people living with type 1 diabetes (T1DM). As this population grows older, they will increasingly encounter the challenges of ageing, including dementia. Many people living with T1DM are concerned about how their diabetes might impact their care needs, including their ability to self-manage. This case series aims to highlight some of the challenges that arise in the care of older adults with T1DM and dementia, including the transitioning of care to carers, community nursing teams or residential care. Since the population of older adults with T1DM is expected to continue to increase, researching ways to improve the care of older adults with T1DM should remain a key priority.
References
Yang K, Yang X, Jin C, et al. Global burden of type 1 diabetes in adults aged 65 years and older, 1990-2019: population based study. BMJ 2024;385:e078432. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-078432
National Diabetes (NDA) quarterly report for Engand, ICB, PCN and GP practice, 11th July 2024.
Golding JA, Yong EST, Hope SV, Wright JE, Levett TJ, Chakera AJ. Type 1 diabetes and frailty: a scoping review. Diabet Med 2024; 41:e15344. https://doi.org/10.1111/dme.15344
American Diabetes Association Professional Practice C. 13. Older adults: standards of medical care in diabetes-2022. Diabetes Care 2022;45(Suppl 1):S195-S207. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc22-S013
International Diabetes Federation. Global guideline for managing older people with type 2 diabetes. IDF, Brussels 2013. idf.org
Mattishent K, Loke YK. Meta-analysis: association between hypoglycaemia and serious adverse events in older patients. J Diabetes Complications 2016;30(5):811-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2016.03.018
Wylie TAF, Morris A, Robertson E, et al. Ageing well with diabetes: a workshop to co-design research recommendations for improving the diabetes care of older people. Diabet Med 2022;39(7):e14795. https://doi.org/10.1111/dme.14795
Zac-Varghese S, Summerhayes B, Winocour P. Managing type 1 diabetes in frailty. BMJ Case Reports 2022;15(12):e253779. https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2022-253779
NICE TA943. Hybrid closed loop systems for managing blood glucose levels in type 1 diabetes, www.nice.org.uk
von Bernhardi R, Bernhardi LE, Eugenin J. What is neural plasticity? Adv Exp Med Biol 2017;1015:1-15. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62817-2_1
Dhaliwal R, Weinstock RS. Management of type 1 diabetes in older adults. Diabetes Spectr 2014;27(1):9-20. https://doi.org/10.2337/diaspect.27.1.9
Sinclair AJ, Bellary S, Middleton A, et al. Type 1 diabetes in care homes: a practical guide on management. Diabet Med 2024; 42:e15457. https://doi.org/10.1111/dme.15457
Scivier M. Quality care is needed for older people with diabetes in care homes--now and for the future. BMJ 2024;387:q2471. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.q2471
Maltese G, McAuley SA, Trawley S, Sinclair AJ. Ageing well with diabetes: the role of technology. Diabetologia 2024;67(10):2085-102. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-024-06240-2
NICE NG17. Type 1 diabetes in adults: diagnosis and management, 2022. nice.org.uk
Brooks A, Chakera AJ. The challenge of managing type 1 diabetes in frail older people. Diabet Med 2019;36(4):453-6. https://doi.org/10.1111/dme.13904
Gandhi GY, Mooradian AD. Clinical considerations for insulin therapy in older adults with type 1 diabetes. Drugs and Aging 2022;39(1):23-37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40266-021-00900-3
Martin L, Hill S, Holt RIG. The effect of diabetes management on the workload of district and community nursing teams in the UK. Diabet Med 2024;41(10):e15367. https://doi.org/10.1111/dme.15367
Sinclair A, Morley JE, Rodriguez-Manas L, et al. Diabetes mellitus in older people: position statement on behalf of the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG), the European Diabetes Working Party for Older People (EDWPOP), and the International Task Force of Experts in Diabetes. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2012;13(6):497-502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2012.04.012
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 British Journal of Diabetes
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Manuscripts published in the June 2024 edition and after in the BJD have been published in open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License and available at https://www.bjd-abcd.com. Prior year articles are available free of charge via our website.
