[Diabetes mellitus in the elderly: from the epidemiological challenge to a personalized approach]

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a common chronic disease in the elderly, being either a known disease with a long history (type 1 or even more often type 2 diabetes) and then frequently associated with various diabetic complications, or a recently diagnosed diabetes that may, however, have been ignored for a rather long time. In this latter case, diabetes may present as the occurrence or aggravation of one or several geriatric syndromes that overall result in a loss of autonomy. The global geriatric assessment, the estimation of life expectancy and the justification of glucose-lowering treatments should be performed at regular intervals in elderly diabetic people as they determine the right choice of glucose target levels and the best selection of glucose-lowering agents. Medications that can induce hypoglycaemia should ideally be avoided, especially in the frailty older population. The benefit-risk ratio of the proposed therapies should be analyzed first, and then regularly reassessed because of a potentially rapidly progressing condition. The recommended approach is a tailored management of diabetes that should integrate the clinical, functional and psycho-social aspects of elderly individuals.