@article{119871,
  author = {Chioun Lee and German Rodriguez and Dana A. Glei and Maxine Weinstein and Noreen Goldman},
  title = {Increases in Blood Glucose in Older Adults: The Effects of Spousal Health},
  abstract = { <b>Objective:</b>~The death or illness of a spouse negatively affects a partner{\textquoteright}s health, but little is known about the effect on blood glucose (glycemic) levels. This study investigates the extent to which a spouse{\textquoteright}s declining health or death is associated with changes in the glycemic levels of older adults.~<b>Method:</b>~Data come from a nationally representative longitudinal sample of 597 Taiwanese (aged 54 to 90). We use changes in spousal health and death of a spouse to predict changes in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA<sub>1c</sub>) levels over a 6-year period.~<b>Results:</b>~A decline in spousal health is associated with increased HbA<sub>1c</sub>~levels for women, but not for men. The death of a healthy spouse is associated with increased HbA<sub>1c</sub>~levels for both genders.~<b>Discussion:</b>Stressful life transitions may compromise the glycemic levels of older adults. Taking on a caregiving role may erode some of the benefits of marriage and interfere with women{\textquoteright}s maintenance of their own health. },
  year = {2014},
  journal = {Journal of Aging and Health},
  volume = {26},
  pages = {952-968},
  url = {http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0898264314534894},
  language = {eng},
}