Authors: Kenneth Madden, Boris Feldman, Sarah Sy, Graydon Meneilly
Title: Exploring the link between frailty, body domposition, and glycemic control in older adults with diabetes
Summary: ELCHA Investigator Kenneth Madden, alongside UBC researchers Boris Feldman and Drs. Sarah Sy and Graydon Meneilly, recently published a paper in the Canadian Journal of Aging (Oct 2024), that sheds light on the complex relationship between frailty and blood sugar control (glycemic control) in older adults with type 2 diabetes. This research is important because frailty and diabetes frequently co-exist, but the relationship between them is not fully understood, particularly when it comes to body composition, such as muscle and fat distribution.
In this study, the authors analyzed the impact of three different measures of frailty on blood sugar levels: the Cardiovascular Health Study Index (CHSI), the Rockwood Clinical Frailty Scale (RCFS), and gait speed. The team found that only the CHSI, a physical-based measure, showed a significant association with glycemic control, while RCFS and gait speed did not. Importantly, the researchers also accounted for fat-free mass and waist circumference, providing a more nuanced understanding of the interplay between body composition and diabetes management in frail older adults. These findings suggest that frailty assessments focused on physical health could provide a better understanding of how to manage blood sugar levels for older adults, ultimately informing healthcare practices and improving outcomes for this vulnerable population.
Read the article here.