NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Older women with type 2 diabetes are not only at risk for serious medical complications but are also less able to perform day-to-day tasks such as walking two blocks or doing housework, researchers report.

In a study of more than 8,000 US women aged 65 and older, investigators found that those with diabetes were about twice as likely to have some type of limitation that affected their ability to get through the day. While nearly 10% of women with diabetes had some type of functional disability, about 5% of non-diabetic women did, the report indicates.

Each year during the 12-year study, for instance, just over 4% of women with diabetes reported that they could not walk two blocks, compared with about 2% of healthy women. Between 1% and 2% of diabetic women said they were unable to prepare meals, compared with less than 1% of those without diabetes. The relationship between diabetes and disability was stronger among women aged 65 to 69 than among older women.

The findings underscore the extent to which type 2 diabetes, which is partly hereditary and partly influenced by diet and exercise, can erode quality of life, the researchers report in the January issue of Diabetes Care.

``Although diabetes is often accompanied by vascular and neuropathic (disorders), the threats of physical disability, loss of independence, and diminished quality of life may ultimately be the greatest concern for many with the disease,'' according to Dr. Edward W. Gregg, from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, and colleagues.

The study, which found that weight, age and vision problems increased the risk of having a disability while the past use of estrogen and exercise decreased the risk, also indicates that certain interventions may help.

``Lifestyle-based weight loss interventions or clinical management of (heart disease) and related risk factors could improve physical functioning,'' the authors suggest.

According to the report, the majority of Americans with diabetes will be 65 and older by the year 2025.

More than 6% of the women in the study had been diagnosed with diabetes. These women were more likely than their healthy peers to be overweight, report symptoms of depression and have high blood pressure, vision problems, arthritis and heart disease. They were less likely to take estrogen replacement therapy and to walk for exercise.

SOURCE: Diabetes Care 2002;25:61-67.

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