The primary objective of this study was to study the impact of a low-cost multi-component strategy on HbA1c levels in elderly diabetics. The secondary objectives were to assess its impact on obesity and blood pressure. Method: A case - control study where subjects were elderly diabetics (>60) living in an urban slum (n= 65). Subjects in the control group (n = 31) were asked to continue their medications and follow lifestyle advice. Those in the intervention group (n = 34), were administered 6 weekly individual counselling sessions on diabetic treatment, diet and lifestyle modifications and were provided with pedometers to keep track of their daily step counts. Short message service (SMS) was used to post diabetes-related messages. Study period was 12 weeks. Weight, waist and hip circumferences (WC, HC), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) and HbA1c were measured for all subjects at the start and end of the study. After 12 weeks of intervention, there was a significant reduction in SBP (p = 0.030), WC (p = 0.016), HC (p = 0.030) and improved drug compliance (p = 0.00) in the intervention group as compared to the control group. There was no significant change in DBP or HbA1c. The pedometer count did not show a significant correlation with reduction in HbA1c. The multicomponent strategy significantly reduced SBP, WC and HC and improved treatment compliance in elderly diabetics in an urban slum.

Authors:
V K Sashindran, NITTE (Deemed to be University), India
Vivek Aggarwal, Armed Forced Medical College, India
Puja Dudeja, Col Med (Professional Services) Office of Director General Medical Services, India

About the Presenter(s)
Dr V K Sashindran is an infectious disease specialist who has worked with HIV/AIDS for 3 decades. He is now involved in geriatric medicine and is interested in the biology of ageing and the interplay between infections and ageing.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/v-k-sashindran-44902129/

Connect on ResearchGate
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/V-K-Sashindran-3

Additional website of interest
https://nitteedu.academia.edu/VKSashindran

See this presentation on the full schedule – Saturday Schedule

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