A scoping review of best practice guidelines for the dietary management of diabetes in older adults in residential aged care. Issue 4 (August 2019) - Farrer, Olivia
Highlights: There are no systems based multi-disciplinary evidence based guidelines for dietary management of older adults with diabetes. Inconsistent current guidelines for dietary management of older adults with diabetes may impact health and quality of life. Existing practice documents are variable in quality and applicability for older adults with diabetes in aged care. High quality guidelines are required for management of older adults with diabetes in community and institutionalised settings. Abstract: Over the last two decades guidelines have been published on the subject of the care and liberalised nutrition management of older adults with diabetes in residential aged care, recognising that they may have different needs to those older adults in their own home. This study aimed to scope and appraise these guidelines using the AGREE II tool. Overall physician developed guidelines were more robust, but there was discordance in their recommendations compared to guidelines developed by dietitians; particularly regarding the use of therapeutic diets. A lack of standardised approach has implications for optimal dietary management of diabetes in aged care.