Treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in elderly patients

Publication date: Available online 21 February 2018 Source:Revista Clínica Española (English Edition) Author(s): R. Gómez-Huelgas, F. Gómez Peralta, L. Rodríguez Mañas, F. Formiga, M. Puig Domingo, J.J. Mediavilla Bravo, C. Miranda, J. Ena The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) increases markedly with age. Antidiabetic treatment and the objectives of glycaemic control in elderly patients with DM2 should be individualized according to their biopsychosocial characteristics. In elderly patients for whom the benefits of intensive antidiabetic treatment are limited, the basic objectives should be to improve the quality of life, preserve functionality and avoid adverse effects, especially hypoglycaemia. Treatment of DM2 in the elderly was the subject of a consensus document published in 2012 and endorsed by several Spanish scientific societies. Since then, new therapeutic groups and evidence have emerged that warrant an update to this consensus document. The present document focuses on the therapeutic aspects of DM2 in elderly patients, understood as being older than 75 years or frail.
Source: Revista Clinica Espanola - Category: Internal Medicine Source Type: research