Diabetes in Golden Age: Clinical Perspective and Management

Dr Anil N Shinde; Dr Lakshmi Gumpeny; Dr Gumpeny R Sridhar; Dr Santosh Kumar PK; Dr Prasanna Kumar K M

doi:10.59793/yvwq0682

Authors

Dr Anil N Shinde Consultant Diabetologist and Bariatric Physician, Nisha Diabesity Centre, Bagalur Main Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Dr Lakshmi Gumpeny Professor, Dept. of Internal Medicine, Gayatri Vidya Parishad Institute of Healthcare & Medical Technology
Dr Gumpeny R Sridhar Dept. of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Endocrine and Diabetes Centre, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
Dr Santosh Kumar PK Consultant Diabetologist and Endocrinologist, Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Dr Prasanna Kumar K M Consultant Endocrinologist, Centre for Diabetes and Endocrine Care, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59793/yvwq0682

Keywords:

Type 2 diabetes,, elderly,, frailty,, sarcopenia,, personalized medicine

Abstract

Diabetes, even in adults may not behave the same across the age spectrum. This is true particularly
in the very old who may have functional dependence, frailty, dementia, or who are near the end
of their lives. Therefore, in the elderly persons with multiple comorbidities, the principal aim
should be the prevention of hypoglycemia, through the choice of antidiabetes medicines and less
stringent glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) target. With improved treatments, persons with diabetes
are living longer, causing an increased burden on the health care system. This review focuses
on persons with diabetes in their eighties and nineties. The challenges of comorbid conditions,
frailty, and pharmacotherapy in this vulnerable group must be addressed.