Columbia study shows elderly with diabetes at increased risk f...( complications from diabetes include the...),Health

complications from diabetes include the drop of blood pressure when standing up, known as orthostatic hypotension, as well as visual impairments, the study found that neither of these were an explanation for the increased fall risk. Dr. Maurer speculates that problems with peripheral nerves that can affect the sensation in diabetic people's feet, known as peripheral neuropathy, could be the mechanism at fault for the higher fall rate in diabetic patients.

Currently, 150 million people are estimated to have type 2 diabetes, and the number is expected to reach 300 million people by 2025.

The study by Dr. Maurer, a geriatric cardiologist, was funded by the National Insitutute on Aging and the American Federation of Aging Research. The study was originally intended to assess if predicting fall risk could be improved by measuring blood pressure with a new method that records blood pressure continuously during the process of standing, rather than the traditional method that uses a cuff to record blood pressure while sitting and one or three minutes after standing. The study showed that this kind of measurement did not, in fact, help prediction, but instead showed that diabetes, in addition to gait and balance difficulties were the most potent predictors of falling in this population.

'"/>

Contact: Craig LeMoult
cel2113@columbia.edu
212-305-0820
Columbia University Medical Center
23-Sep-2005

Page: 1 2
Related medicine news :

1. Columbia dentists to improve oral health in sub-Saharan Africa
2. NY-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center doctors present at 2007 AUA Meeting
3. Columbia study examines ADHDs role in smoking
4. Columbia scientists present research findings at AHA Scientific Sessions
5. Columbia pediatricians, Anne Gershon and Richard Polin, awarded top honors
6. Columbia researchers restore memory lost in mice with Alzheimers
7. Columbia U receives $16.9M award to study origin and health effects of arsenic in ground water
8. Research at University of British Columbia receives historical recognition
9. Columbia receives up to $15 million from Spinal Muscular Atrophy Foundation
10. Columbia study suggests benefits of Zyflamend in the early treatment of prostate cancer
11. Columbia study shows how doctors may manage blood glucose levels during heart surgery