Vongsirinavarat et al (J Diabetes Res 2020, 8573817 (2020)) compared fear of falling, lower extremity strength, and physical balance performance in participants with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus. Participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus were twice as likely to report a fear of falling than their peers, and results suggest these patients’ fear of falling is founded. The
number of times a participant failed the modified clinical test of sensory interaction and balance (mCTSIB) predicted their likelihood of reporting a fear of falling. Unfortunately, this fear is itself a driver of these patients’ elevated risk of falling. The authors recommend routine balance screenings as a means of identifying patients with diabetes who are at the greatest risk
of falling.
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