Elderly and Diabetes

DEFINITION

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) over the age of 65 years is a major public health problem.
• Many biological changes likely contribute to increased insulin resistance with aging including: increased abdominal fat mass, decreased physical activity, mitochondrial dysfunction, hormonal changes, increased oxidative stress and inflammation, lower density of the glucose carrier GLUT4 in the muscle[6].
• Presence of comorbidities, cognitive dysfunction and functional disabilities affect the management of diabetes, especially in the elderly.