Morbidity and mortality risk of aging diabetic and psychogeriatric patients

This dissertation studies the multi-morbidity (multiple disorders), functional impairments and frailty in diabetes patients. All patients that we examined had at least one co-morbid disorder. Eighty percent had more. We can conclude that in aging patients with diabetes the weight of care and the burden of the disease were considerable. The risk of repeated falling is 1.5 times higher in aging patients with diabetes than in aging people without diabetes. This is partly explained by medication, pain and loss of strength in the joints and muscles, a bad health and less physical activity, and cognitive disorders. Our findings show that an active lifestyle and fall prevention should be part of the treatment of all aging patients with diabetes. Screening for frailty turned out not useful.