New Research Highlights Promising Strategies for Diabetes Care in Aging Asian Populations
A wave of recent studies across Asia and beyond is pinpointing key strategies to improve diabetes self-management among older adults, a demographic facing a rapidly increasing prevalence of the disease.Findings reveal that interventions focused on enhanced care coordination, integrated diabetes care models, and multidisciplinary team approaches show significant promise in improving clinical outcomes and continuity of care. These insights come as diabetes rates continue to climb globally, placing immense strain on healthcare systems and individual well-being, especially within aging populations.
diabetes disproportionately affects older adults, and effective self-management is crucial for preventing complications and maintaining quality of life. However, barriers to care – including limited access, fragmented healthcare systems, and cultural factors – often hinder optimal outcomes. Research published in journals including can J Diabetes, J Clin Med, Int J Integr Care, and Korean J Fam Med between 2018 and 2025, underscores the need for tailored interventions that address these challenges, particularly within the unique contexts of Asian healthcare systems.
A 2023 scoping review published in Can J diabetes (Northwood M, et al.) examined care coordination for older adults with diabetes, identifying gaps and opportunities for betterment. Similarly, a 2020 study in Int J Integr Care (Zarora R, et al.) detailed challenges to implementing integrated diabetes care in an inner-regional area of South Western Sydney, Australia, offering lessons applicable to similar settings in Asia. Researchers found that prosperous integration requires addressing logistical hurdles and fostering collaboration among healthcare providers.
Studies also emphasize the importance of continuity of care. A 2022 cross-sectional study in Korean J Fam Med (Shin J, et al.) analyzed factors related to continuity of care in diabetic patients, highlighting its link to improved health outcomes. Wei et al. (2008) in J Clin Epidemiol demonstrated that improved continuity of care within a diabetes management program in China correlated with better clinical results.Innovative approaches, such as transitional care interventions and multidisciplinary teams, are also gaining traction. A 2020 cluster randomized controlled trial in J Adv Nurs (Tu Q,et al.) showed the effectiveness of a transitional care intervention for hypertension control in older adults with diabetes. Most recently,a randomized controlled trial slated for publication in Diabet Res Clin Pract in 2025 (zhuang Y,et al.) suggests that multidisciplinary teams and experience-based co-design can positively impact the care of older adults with type 2 diabetes.
Further research, including a 2020 study in BMJ Open (Lall D, et al.) focusing on primary care improvements in rural South India, reinforces the need for context-specific solutions. Bazzano et al. (2018) in J Clin Med identified barriers and facilitators to non-face-to-face chronic care management,a modality increasingly relevant in expanding access to care. These findings collectively point towards a future were optimized diabetes self-management for older adults in Asia is achievable through strategic implementation of evidence-based interventions and a commitment to patient-centered care.
