Abstract

There is growing recognition that the complications associated with type 2 diabetes may translate into functional impairment in older people (1). This may reflect a link between the metabolic and mechanical functions of muscle. However, the possibility that the link between glucose tolerance and physical function extends to people without diabetes has not been previously considered. The objective of this study was to determine whether there is a relationship among glucose tolerance, muscle strength, and physical function in men and women with and without type 2 diabetes. A cross-sectional survey within a cohort study design was used. Information was obtained on self-reported diabetes status cross-checked with medication data, glucose, and insulin levels 2 h after an oral glucose tolerance test (for participants without a previous diagnosis of diabetes) (2), grip strength using a Jamar dynamometer (3), and physical function using the physical function component of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short form questionnaire. This is a measure of subjective health status widely validated in both men and women (4,5). The population-based study sample consisted of 1,391 men and women aged between 60 and 70 years and living in the …