Doctors from the DIABFRAIL-LATAM project warn of the rise in diabetes due to population aging
- The Head of the Geriatrics Department at Getafe University Hospital, Dr. Leocadio Rodríguez Mañas, highlights that two-thirds of people with diabetes worldwide are over 65 years old.
- Rodríguez Mañas emphasizes the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle and healthy nutrition to prevent the disease, which “does not kill after the age of 75 but does incapacitate.”
- The specialist leads DIABFRAIL-LATAM, a project involving organizations such as the Panamerican Health Organization (PAHO), the Spanish Biomedical Research Networking Center (CIBERFES), Getafe University Hospital (Madrid), renowned universities in Spain and Latin America, and the Spanish Confederation of Older People Organizations (CEOMA). The initiative includes an educational plan, exercise routines, and adjustments to therapeutic goals for frail and pre-frail older adults with diabetes in Latin American countries.
Madrid, November 14, 2024. The Head of the Geriatrics Department at Getafe University Hospital (Madrid) and Scientific Director of the Frailty and Aging area at the Spanish Biomedical Research Networking Center (CIBERFES), Dr. Leocadio Rodríguez Mañas, has highlighted the increase in diabetes cases due to “unhealthy lifestyles” but especially because of population aging.
On the occasion of International Diabetes Day, celebrated on November 14, Rodríguez Mañas noted that “obesity and sedentary lifestyles, caused by poor habits, are major risk factors for diabetes,” as are the changes that occur as people age, such as “fat concentrating in the abdomen and muscle fibers and the body becoming insulin-resistant.”
The specialist stated that two-thirds of people with diabetes worldwide are over 65 years old and stressed that “for those over 75, the disease does not increase the risk of death but does increase the risk of disability and dependency.” Therefore, he emphasized the need for early intervention to address “patient frailty, lifestyle, and nutrition, along with pharmacological treatments that are not only effective but also protective for the patient.” “The goal for older adults with diabetes is to help them remain autonomous,” he added.
To achieve this, the Spanish Biomedical Research Networking Center (CIBER), supported by EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation funding, and in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), prestigious foundations, universities, institutes, hospitals from Spain, Italy, and Latin America, and the Spanish Organization of Older People Organizations, has been studying the implementation of beneficial lifestyle guidelines for frail older adults in four Latin American countries: Mexico, Chile, Peru, and Colombia.
The project examines the effects of a program combining education on diabetes and nutrition, treatment adjustments tailored to individual goals, and a physical exercise plan based on an application called VIVIFRAIL®, providing comprehensive care to older adults with diabetes while preserving their functionality. Addressing health issues associated with diabetes in older adults not only improves individuals’ quality of life but also reduces the economic and social costs of care.
Rodríguez Mañas explained that they decided to launch this program in Colombia, Chile, Peru, and Mexico following the success of a similar intervention in EU countries, the MIDFRAIL program, also funded by the EU. In Latin America, the program is conducted “at home” and is adapted to each country’s specific conditions. According to the geriatrician, “the results are very positive, and we see that after the success in Europe, it also works well in lower-income countries.” This program, which will conclude in December, includes over 700 participants and is already being expanded to nine other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Impact on Quality of Life
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is one of the most prevalent diseases among older adults, associated with geriatric syndromes such as frailty. It significantly impacts quality of life, causing issues like vision loss, incontinence, depression, or falls. José Luis Fernández Santillana, President of CEOMA, one of the partners in the project, urged public administrations to “be more involved” with patients and “increase the distribution of electronic glucose monitoring sensors.” Such devices “would free users from finger pricks, enabling them to monitor their glucose levels via mobile devices,” thereby “reducing emergency visits and hospitalizations by allowing better dosage regulation at home.”
Through the program, participants gain more knowledge about the disease, its causes, consequences, and management. They learn self-care practices and how to handle situations like hypoglycemia or malnutrition while understanding the importance of incorporating physical activity into their daily lives. A nutrition plan based on appropriate, non-restrictive diets and a routine of aerobic, resistance, balance, and flexibility exercises form the foundation of the program.
The study also aims to demonstrate that non-pharmacological strategies should be integral to disease management. Additionally, it analyzes the impact of functional decline caused by symptomatic hypoglycemia episodes and hospitalizations.
The DIABFRAIL-LATAM team underscores the program’s relevance, given the lack of intervention studies in older adults with diabetes and the limited applicability of clinical guidelines for this population.
Meeting of the team responsible for the Diabfrail Latam project at the headquarters of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Washington DC, within the framework of World Diabetes Day, November 14.
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