Older people are up to 80% more likely to have a physical disability if they have diabetes, new research indicates.

Australian scientists reviewed over 3,000 studies on the possible link between diabetes and disability. After eliminating those that were not suitable or relevant, they focused on 26 studies, carrying out detailed analyses of the findings.

Physical disability refers to difficulty or dependency in carrying out activities essential to independent living. This includes impaired mobility or an inability to perform everyday activities such as dressing, bathing, preparing meals, using public transport and using a phone.

The study found that older adults with diabetes are 50-80% more likely to have a physical disability compared to people without diabetes.

While the 26 studies did not differentiate between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, the scientists did acknowledge that most the of the studies included people over the age of 65 with type 2 diabetes.

They said that the reason why this link exists is ‘still unclear', although a number of suggestions have been made.

"It's possible that the high blood glucose concentrations experienced by people with diabetes might lead to chronic muscle inflammation, eventually resulting in physical disability, and some studies have shown that diabetes is associated with rapid and worsening muscle wasting," the scientists from the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne said.

They also pointed out that complications associated with diabetes, such as heart disease and kidney disease, ‘can all result in disability'.

"As the world's population ages and diabetes becomes more common, it seems clear that we will see an increased need for disability-related health resources, which health systems around the world need to be prepared for," they added.

Details of these findings are published in the journal, The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.