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Younger Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Have Poorer Self-Care Practices Compared with Older Patients—Results from the Australian National Diabetes Audit

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes is increasingly diagnosed among younger people. Patient engagement with self-care practices is crucial for the optimal management of type 2 diabetes. This study examines the self-care practices of younger and older patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Data were analysed from the Australian National Diabetes Audit (ANDA) that included 2552 adult patients with type 2 diabetes from 56 participating Diabetes Centres. Pre-specified demographic and clinical variables were obtained. Self-care variables (physical activity, following dietary recommendations, medication adherence and monitoring blood glucose levels) were compared in patients ≤64 years and >64 years of age. Results: Mean age (±SD) of participants was 63±13 years overall, 53±9 years for the younger group and 73±6 years for the older group. Mean diabetes duration was 9±8 years and 15±10 years for younger and older patients, respectively (p Conclusion: Despite shorter diabetes duration, younger age was associated with worse glycaemic control and poorer diabetes self-care practices among patients with type 2 diabetes. Targeted strategies are urgently required to optimise diabetes self-care practices and thereby improve glycaemic control. Disclosure N. Nanayakkara: None. A.J. Pease: None. S. Ranasinha: None. N. Wischer: None. B. de Courten: None. S. Zoungas: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca.