High risk of diabetes for the over-50s in Ireland revealed by Dublin study

As many as 10% of diabetes cases among people aged 50 and over may be undiagnosed, according to the country’s top study on aging.

The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), led by Trinity College Dublin, is studying a representative cohort of more than 8,000 people aged 50 and above over a period of 10 years. It discovered 10% have diabetes, with 10% of that group unaware they suffered from the condition.

TILDA researchers were able to determine those people had type 2 diabetes, thanks to blood samples provided for the study.

Dr Siobhan Leahy, TILDA research fellow, said that the findings indicated a need for more proactive screening programmes for target groups susceptible to diabetes.

The study found that while the population equivalent of 120,000 people over the age of 50 may have type 2 diabetes, as many as 12,000 have not been diagnosed.

Furthermore, a strong correlation was found between diabetes and obesity. People who were carrying extra weight in their middle and who had a low level of physical exercise were more likely to have diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes was more common in men — at 12% — than women (7%) and also increased with age from 5% in between 50-59 years to 16% in those aged 80 and above.

There was also a strong relationship with increasing age, a self-reported history of high cholesterol, having poor or fair self-rated health and reporting low levels of physical activity with having diabetes, while a self-reported history of hypertension was also an indicator.

Undiagnosed type 2 diabetes was more common outside of Dublin.

Dr Leahy said that early diagnoses of type 2 diabetes would improve the health and lives of those affected, and also mean fewer people only presenting to medical services when aspects of the illness become more acute.

“There is the possibility of targeting specific groups for screening programmes,” she said, “so we could very well improve our rate of detection.”

Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of heart attacks, heart failure, kidney disease and falls, resulting in disability, loss of independence and early mortality. Dr Leahy said early detection could also have the effect of those people with type 2 diabetes being better able to inform their own children over their health and lifestyle choices.

Elsewhere, four of the country’s leading health charities have joined forces seeking research proposals to identify ways to reduce the risk of cancer, dementia, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

The Irish Cancer Society, Diabetes Ireland, The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and the Irish Heart Foundation have come together to support a research initiative aimed at identifying measures to reduce the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and dementia, which together affect as many as 500,000 people in Ireland every year.

The head of research at the Irish Cancer Society, Dr Robert O’Connor, said: “In coming together in this call, we recognise that we need to work together to try to have the greatest possible positive effect on the long-term health of our communities.”

The closing date for research proposals is January 15 and applications must be submitted by email to [e-mail].

• www.cancer.ie/research/funding/mrcg-hrb-joint-funding-scheme#sthash.rP5h5wz4.dpbs