Objective: The objective of this study was to profile nursing home residents with diabetes at admission to the nursing facility.
Methods: We used all admission assessments in the Minimum Data Set recorded throughout the United States during 2002 to identify 144,969 residents with diabetes, or 26.4% of all admissions.
Results: Only approximately one fourth of residents with diabetes were projected to have stays in the facility of 90 days or less when admitted. Heart and circulatory comorbidities were common among residents with diabetes at admission, as was depression. More than half of residents with diabetes were in pain at admission. A majority of residents with diabetes were either totally dependent or required extensive assistance in the self-performance of many activities of daily living and more than one third were at least moderately impaired in cognitive performance.
Conclusions: Residents with diabetes could be one of the most "heavy care" groups in nursing facilities, as demonstrated by their levels of functional disability and prevalence of serious comorbid conditions. The care provided to residents with diabetes should address depression, pain, and low rates of advance care planning.