It is a common assumption that the elderly patients who are depressed and diabetic may not respond well to clinical intervention programs, till such time they come out of their depression. This hypothesis actually leads them to being excluded from such intervention modules. Infact, Researchers have confirmed that there is no strong connection between depression in elderly patients with diabetes and the extent to which they discipline their blood sugar levels.
A study was conducted by the researchers at Suny Upstate University, Syracuse, New York, where about 1600 elderly diabetic, participated in a diabetes care management program.During the initial phase of the study, it was observed that there was a marked relationship between depression and diabetes control. The significant pointer was that depression did not cause an alteration in blood sugar control in patients, irrespective of whether they were part of an intervention program or underwent the usual treatment.
Researchers were able to rest the issue confirming that depression should not be used as a reason to exclude patients from clinical intervention programs, because it is fairly disconnected with diabetes.
