Salud Diabetes

Diabetes News for the Spanish Speaking Community

Living Longer with Type 1 Diabetes

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Original Article: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/more-and-more-are-living-type-1-diabetes-old-age-2024a1000bej

Why are people with T1D Living Longer?

More people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are living into old age thanks to advances in treatment. Unlike type 2 diabetes, which is more common in older adults and often linked to lifestyle factors including obesity and inactivity, type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed earlier in life including in childhood. Managing type 1 diabetes involves taking insulin every day and monitoring blood sugar levels to keep them balanced. Over time, if blood glucose levels are persistently high, this can lead to complications affecting the heart, kidneys, eyes, and nerves. However, with better management and care, people with type 1 diabetes are now living longer and healthier lives. 

Recent Study on Aging and T1D

A recent study found that the prevalence of T1D among people aged ≥ 65 years increased by 180% from 1990 to 2019, rising from 1.3 million to 3.7 million, indicating that more individuals are reaching older ages with this condition.

The study also highlighted a significant decrease in the risk of premature death of older adults with T1D, dropping by 25% between 1990 and 2019. This improvement is attributed to better diabetes education, management, and treatment options, including the availability of technologies such as continuous glucose monitors, insulin pumps, smart insulin pens and artificial pancreas systems.

Increase in Type 1 Diabetes Prevalence

However, the study also found that there has been a significant increase in the number of people developing type 1 diabetes, including in older adults – the increase was more rapid among men. Moreover, the prevalence of T1D tripled in every age subgroup of those aged ≥ 65 years. 

With ongoing research and advancements in treatment, the outlook for individuals with type 1 diabetes continues to improve, offering hope for a brighter future. This is good news but more needs to be done to prevent type 1 diabetes.

The study was conducted by Kaijie Yang and colleagues from the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the First Hospital of China Medical University and was published in the BMJ.