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Summary
This 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.
This 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.
In this episode, we cover:
The 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.
Key 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.
Evidence-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.
Read the full blog and see visuals:
- Read the article: https://thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.blog/2025/04/17/the-connection-between-diabetes-and-increased-fall-risk/
- View any photos, diagrams, or checklists mentioned in this episode on the blog.
Related trainings and courses:
- Certified Home Accessibility Therapist (CHAT): https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/CHAT
- Occupational Therapy for Persons with Hoarding Disorder https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/HoardingCourse
- All Courses: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/courses
Stay connected:
- Website: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/
- Blog: https://thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.blog/
- Join the newsletter: https://www.thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.com/Newsletter
- Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/homeaccessibilitysafety
- Follow on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/susan-doyle-38bba3178
Creators and Guests
What is The Home Accessibility Therapist Podcast?
The Home Accessibility Therapist Podcast delivers tips, training, and interviews for therapists who are changing lives at home. Each episode turns real-world home modification challenges—like falls, hoarding, and disaster preparedness—into clear, practical strategies you can use on your next visit. You’ll hear Therapist Thursday interviews, research-based blog-to-audio episodes, and “Office Hours” Q&A focused on evaluations, documentation, and funding. The podcast’s goal is to build your confidence and skills as a home accessibility therapist so your recommendations are safer, more effective, and more likely to be implemented.