Challenges and Opportunities for Improving Care for Type 1 Diabetes in Older Adulthood

As care for type 1 diabetes (T1D) advances, the number of adults with T1D living into older adulthood (ages ≥65 years) continues to grow. The population of older adults with T1D is highly heterogeneous, and over the life span, various factors may change over time while others may not, necessitating an individualized approach to management. A key care consideration for people with T1D is the ongoing need for exogenous insulin replacement intensive self-monitoring for effective management. At the same time, growing older may bring changes such as increased risk of misdiagnosis of T1D as type 2 diabetes, greater vulnerability to hypoglycemia, accumulating comorbidities and complications, declining independence due to geriatric syndromes, and a growing need for support in using diabetes technologies and navigating complex care transitions. Given the unique clinical and management needs of this population, we sought to present key care challenges in this population and suggest strategies to optimize quality of care in older adults with T1D, including 1) integrating geriatric screenings, age-friendly care frameworks, and regular reassessments into routine T1D management; 2) developing tailored care approaches for cognitive impairment; 3) establishing support systems for diabetes technology use in primary and long-term care settings; and 4) ensuring insurance coverage and access to diabetes technologies and therapies. Forward-thinking strategies to optimize care include individualized glycemic goal setting, the development and adoption of care models that support continuity of diabetes technology use, and individualized management strategies that consider of the goals and capabilities of the person living with T1D and care partners.