{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The Home Accessibility Therapist Podcast","title":"S1E27: Blog to Audio | The Connection Between Diabetes and Fall Risk: What OTs and PTs Need to Know for Home Safety","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1446,"description":"Summary\n\nThis episode is an audio version of our blog, “The Connection Between Diabetes and Fall Risk.” Sue Doyle, PhD, OTR/L unpacks what the research says about why older adults with diabetes fall more often and more repeatedly, then walks through practical, home-based strategies OTs and PTs can use to address neuropathy, vision changes, medication effects, and environment together.\n\nIn this episode, we cover:\nThe big-picture data on diabetes and falls, including how common diabetes is in older adults and how much it increases both first-time and recurrent fall risk—making it a background factor on many caseloads, not a niche condition.\nKey clinical drivers of elevated fall risk in diabetes: peripheral neuropathy, diabetic vision changes, hypoglycemia episodes, complex medication regimens (including insulin and newer agents), and musculoskeletal changes that together undermine balance, gait, and protective responses.\nEvidence-informed home modifications and safety strategies tailored to this population—lighting and flooring changes, bathroom and stairway upgrades, grab bars and contrast use, rug and threshold management, and ways to educate clients and families—so you can treat diabetes as a clear fall-risk flag and proactively adapt the home rather than waiting for “inevitable” falls. \n\nRead the full blog and see visuals:\nRead the article: https://thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.blog/2025/04/17/the-connection-between-diabetes-and-increased-fall-risk/\nView any photos, diagrams, or checklists mentioned in this episode on the blog.\nRelated trainings and courses:\nCertified Home Accessibility Therapist (CHAT): https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/CHAT\nOccupational Therapy for Persons with Hoarding Disorder https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/HoardingCourse\nAll Courses: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/courses\nStay connected:\nWebsite: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/\nBlog: https://thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.blog/\nJoin...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/O7b2v0bIVVQSLB9XFpnyi7hQtbZrHAnizF-YFWT6G1o/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9hZWYz/MTdlZjJjOTAxODEy/NTM1ZGZmYTg3NzNm/YTkwYy5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}