Food insecurity and medication adherence in low-income older Medicare beneficiaries with type 2 diabetes.

Publisher: Routledge Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101558292 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2155-1200 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 21551200 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Nutr Gerontol Geriatr Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: Philadelphia, PA : Routledge

Aging* ; Diet, Diabetic*/economics ; Diet, Diabetic*/psychology ; Food Supply*/economics ; Medication Adherence*/psychology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/*drug therapy ; Hypoglycemic Agents/*therapeutic use; Administration, Oral ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Combined Modality Therapy/economics ; Combined Modality Therapy/psychology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetes Complications/epidemiology ; Diabetes Complications/prevention & control ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/economics ; Female ; Georgia/epidemiology ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents/administration & dosage ; Hypoglycemic Agents/economics ; Longitudinal Studies ; Male ; Medicare Part D ; Poverty ; Prevalence ; United States

Little is known about diabetes management among low-income older Americans. This study used statewide self-administered survey and Medicare claims data to examine the relationships of food insecurity and medication (re)fill adherence in a sample of Medicare Part D beneficiaries with type 2 diabetes in need of food assistance in Georgia in 2008 (n = 243, mean age 74.2 ± 7.8 years, 27.2% African American, 77.4% female). (Re)fill adherence to oral hypoglycemics was measured as Proportion of Days Covered. Food insecurity was assessed using a six-item validated standard measure. About 54% of the sample were food insecure. About 28% of the diabetic sample did not (re)fill any diabetes medication and over 80% had at least one diabetes complication. Food insecure participants showed comparable (re)fill adherence to food secure participants. However, 57% of food insecure participants were nonadherent to oral hypoglycemics. Underlying basic needs must be addressed to improve diabetes management in this population.

Keywords: food insecurity; medicare claims; medication (re)fill adherence; older adults; poverty; type 2 diabetes

0 (Hypoglycemic Agents)

Date Created: 20141127 Date Completed: 20150817 Latest Revision: 20160519

20240628

10.1080/21551197.2014.959680

25424513