This article is from the WebMD News Archive
Obesity After Age 50 Raises Diabetes Risk
Increased Diabetes Risk Exists to a Lesser Extent After Age 75, Study Finds
Reviewed by
Laura J. Martin, MD
June 23, 2010 -- Obesity and weight gain increase the risk for diabetes in the elderly, but the association is not as strong after age 75 as it is for younger adults, a new study finds.
Researchers followed people over age 65 for more than a decade in one of the largest and longest studies ever to examine the impact of obesity and weight gain on diabetes risk in the elderly.
Overall, people in the study who weighed the most were two to six times as likely to develop diabetes during the follow-up as people who weighed the least.
People who were obese at age 50 and gained 20 pounds or more prior to entering the study were five times as likely to develop diabetes as people who were not overweight and did not gain weight.
The study appears in the June 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
“We already knew it was important to maintain an optimal weight to lower diabetes risk, and this study finds that it remains important into old age,” lead researcher Mary L. Biggs, PhD, of the University of Washington, Seattle, tells WebMD.
Age, Obesity, and Diabetes
The study included 4,193 adults aged 65 and older (median age was 73) followed for an average of 12.4 years. During the follow-up, 339 new cases of diabetes were identified.
Biggs and colleagues examined several measures of obesity, including body mass index (BMI) at study entry, BMI at age 50, weight, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio.
All of these measures were strongly related to diabetes risk, as was weight gain after age 50, Biggs says.
Specifically:
- Compared to people whose weight remained relatively stable, people who were normal weight before age 50 and who gained 20 pounds or more after age 50 and before entering the study had a threefold greater risk for developing diabetes during the follow-up.
- Diabetes risk was four times greater for study participants who had the highest BMIs and biggest waist circumferences.
- Compared to people whose waist size remained relatively unchanged, people whose waist grew by more than 4 inches over the follow-up period had a 70% higher risk of developing diabetes.
Among people older than 75 when they entered the study, those who were overweight or obese were twice as likely to develop diabetes.
“Obesity-associated risk does seem to wane some as people get older,” Biggs says. “But the important message was that there was still a relationship.”
Is Obesity Less Risky in Elderly People?
A number of recent studies have found that being overweight or obese is not as deleterious to health in old age as it is earlier in life.
Research published early this year found that being overweight after age 70 was associated with a lower risk for death than for people who were normal weight, underweight, or obese.
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Is This Normal?
Get the Facts Fast!Answer:
Your level is currently NormalHigh (hyperglycemia).Low (hypoglycemia). |
If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.
People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.
People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Your blood sugar level is slightly high. You should call your health care provider and ask if laboratory tests to check for diabetes are needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Congratulations on taking steps to manage your health.
However, it's important to continue to track your numbers so that you can make lifestyle changes if needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your level is currently normal. However, if you are concerned about diabetes speak with your physician. There may be other risk factors that increase your risk for diabetes.
Your level is high if this reading was taken before eating. Aim for 70-130 before meals and less than 180 two hours after meals.
Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.
One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your blood sugar level may be high, depending on when you last ate. If you have not eaten for at least 8 hours, your blood sugar should be less than 100. If you've eaten within the last 2 hours, your blood sugar should be less than 140. You should call your health care provider and ask if you need laboratory tests to check for diabetes. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Blood sugars consistently above 180 warrant prompt medical attention.
Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.
One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your blood sugar level is high. You should call your health care provider and ask if laboratory tests to check for diabetes are needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
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