The Potential Role of Psychosocial Stress on Levels of Hemoglobin A1c (HbA,1c) and Fasting Plasma Glucose in Elderly People

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Abstract
Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)) mainly reflects the average blood glucose levels during the 8 to 12 weeks preceding the sampling. It is elevated in diabetic patients. The HbA1c level has also been reported to rise with age. In this experiment the influence of aging as well as social understimulation on HbA1c and fasting blood glucose has been studied. Sixty elderly people (M= 78 years) were selected at random from two different floors at a senior citizen apartment building. Half of the group was introduced to a psychosocial activation program, whereas the other was followed as a control group. Psychophysiological evaluations were performed before and after 3 and 6 months of experimental time. Social activities increased three-fold in the experimental group. There was also an increased interaction among the tenants and the staff in the experimental group. Over the 6-month period, significantly improved HbA1c levels were observed in the experimental group compared with the control group (p < .02, two-way analysis of variance). There was no effect on levels of fasting blood glucose.