Treating the elderly diabetic patient: special considerations
- PMID: 25210468
- PMCID: PMC4154881
- DOI: 10.2147/DMSO.S48898
Treating the elderly diabetic patient: special considerations
Abstract
The prevalence of diabetes is rising in the >65 year-old group. The challenge of defining the goals of therapy arises from the heterogeneity of the aging process and the sparse clinical data in this patient population. In light of these challenges, the clinician should be aware of the pitfalls of caring for the older diabetic patient and prioritize an individualized treatment plan to ensure an optimal glycemic control, without placing the patient at unnecessary risk. We present a review of the current guidelines and literature that deal specifically with the treatment of the older diabetic patient in order to establish the principles of treatment in this age group and help the clinician make decisions regarding the care of these patients.
Keywords: diabetes treatment; elderly; review.
References
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- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet. [Accessed January 20, 2014]. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/pdf/ndfs_2011.pdf.
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- Bethel MA, Sloan FA, Belsky D, Feinglos MN. Longitudinal incidence and prevalence of adverse outcomes of diabetes mellitus in elderly patients. Arch Intern Med. 2007;167(9):921–927. - PubMed
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