Bridging Lifespan and Healthspan: A New Perspective on Older Adult Diabetes

What is it about?

As the global population ages, more and more older adults are living with diabetes. Yet the term commonly used—“Diabetes in Older Adults”—simply describes who has the disease, without acknowledging how different diabetes can be in later life. In this article, I propose a new concept: “Older Adult Diabetes”—a term that reflects the unique medical, physical, and social needs of older people with diabetes. Unlike younger adults, older individuals often face challenges like frailty, memory problems, and the need for daily support. These factors affect how diabetes should be treated and managed. Recognizing Older Adult Diabetes as a distinct condition can help doctors personalize care, guide researchers to study outcomes that matter most to aging patients, and support policymakers in creating more age-appropriate healthcare systems. This new approach aims to improve quality of life for older adults and ensure that healthcare keeps pace with the realities of an aging world.

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Photo by Sweet Life on Unsplash

Photo by Sweet Life on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Thanks to advances in diabetes treatment, people with diabetes are now living longer than ever before. This is an important achievement. However, a new challenge has emerged: the gap between lifespan and healthspan. Living longer does not always mean living healthier, more independent lives. Traditional treatment approaches, which have been built mainly on the prevention of microvascular complications, do not always address the broader age-related health issues faced by older adults. Closing this gap is becoming one of the most urgent priorities in diabetes care.

Perspectives