Association between glycemic level, cardiovascular risk and quality of life in elderly diabetics

Abstract

Introduction: There is an increase in the number of elderly in Brazil, so there is a need to deepen studies on health and nutrition of the elderly in order to provide better quality of life.

Objectives: To evaluate and relate glycemic control, cardiovascular risk and quality of diet consumed by diabetic elderly.

Methods: Cross-sectional study with diabetic elderly, in which anthropometric data were collected to assess the nutritional condition, the cardiovascular risk of the elderly, was also applied a usual food day, with the objective of evaluating the Diet Quality Index (IQD). together a questionnaire on socioeconomic conditions and assessment of capillary blood glucose.

Results: There were 36 elderly interviewed, 61.1% female, 52.8% had altered capillary blood glucose and 80.6% when compared to the IQD result. It was observed that these elderly with inadequate blood glucose had a lower quality diet than those with adequate blood glucose (p <0.05), the same was observed with regard to waist circumference (WC), ie, the elderly with higher WC had a lower IQD than the elderly with lower CC.

Discussion: The results demonstrate that the elderly analyzed need multidisciplinary monitoring for glycemic control, food and nutrition education in order to improve their quality of life.