Diabetes in Golden Age: Clinical Perspective and Management

Diabetes, even in adults may not behave the same across the age spectrum. This is true particularlyin the very old who may have functional dependence, frailty, dementia, or who are near the endof their lives. Therefore, in the elderly persons with multiple comorbidities, the principal aimshould be the prevention of hypoglycemia, through the choice of antidiabetes medicines and lessstringent glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) target. With improved treatments, persons with diabetesare living longer, causing an increased burden on the health care system. This review focuseson persons with diabetes in their eighties and nineties. The challenges of comorbid conditions,frailty, and pharmacotherapy in this vulnerable group must be addressed.