Features of treating type 2 diabetes mellitus in the elderly

• Main Authors: W.A. El Zein, T.V. Mokhort
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Publishing House Zaslavsky 2019-09-01
• Series: Mìžnarodnij Endokrinologìčnij Žurnal
• Subjects: type 2 diabetes mellitus; elderly; co-morbidities associated with diabetes mellitus; target blood glucose levels; glucose-lowering drugs; review
• Online Access: http://iej.zaslavsky.com.ua/article/view/185412

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is becoming one of the most common health problems in the elderly. Worldwide prevalence of DM among subjects over 65 years of age was 123 million in 2017, and it is expected that in 2045 the number of such persons will double. Elderly patients with DM have a higher risk of common geriatric syndromes, including frailty, cognitive impairment and dementia, urinary incontinence, traumatic falls and fractures, disability, side effects of polypharmacy, which have an important impact on quality of life and may interfere with anti-diabetic treatment. This analytical review of the li­terature discusses glycemic targets, as well as the best treatment options for elderly people with type 2 diabetes mellitus based on current international guidelines.