Work

Increases in Blood Glucose in Older Adults

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The death or illness of a spouse negatively affects a partner's health, but little is known about the effect on blood glucose (glycemic) levels. This study investigates the extent to which a spouse's declining health or death is associated with changes in the glycemic levels of older adults. METHOD: Data come from a nationally representative longitudinal sample of 597 Taiwanese (aged 54 to 90). We use changes in spousal health and death of a spouse to predict changes in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels over a 6-year period. RESULTS: A decline in spousal health is associated with increased HbA1c levels for women, but not for men. The death of a healthy spouse is associated with increased HbA1c levels for both genders. DISCUSSION: Stressful life transitions may compromise the glycemic levels of older adults. Taking on a caregiving role may erode some of the benefits of marriage and interfere with women's maintenance of their own health.

Source: Journal of Aging and Health

DOI: 10.1177/0898264314534894

Authors: Chioun Lee, Germán Rodríguez, Dana A. Glei, Maxine Weinstein, Noreen Goldman

Institutions: Princeton University, Georgetown University

Language: English

Topic: Health disparities and outcomes

Subfield: Health

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institute on Aging, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development