Treatment Goals for Glycemia in Older Patients with Diabetes Mellitus.

Lim,  Jung Ah

doi:2019.20.4.220

J Korean Diabetes > Volume 20(4); 2019 > Article

Focused Issue

The Journal of Korean Diabetes 2019;20(4):220-224.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4093/jkd.2019.20.4.220 Published online January 17, 2020.

노인 당뇨병 환자의 혈당조절 목표

임정아

Treatment Goals for Glycemia in Older Patients with Diabetes Mellitus.

Jung Ah Lim

Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. drjalim@nmc.or.kr

Abstract

More than 25% of Korean population aged ≥ 65 years has diabetes, and elderly diabetic patients show higher mortality, reduced functional activity, and increased risk of hospitalization. The care of elderly diabetic patients is complicated by their clinical, cognitive, and functional heterogeneity. Healthy patients with good functional status can be treated using therapeutic interventions and goals similar those for younger adults with diabetes. For patients with complications and reduced functionality, intensive glycemic control should be avoided. Glycemic goals for older patients might be individualized so that treatment can achieve the appropriate balance between glycemic control and risk of hypoglycemia.

Key Words: Aged, Diabetes mellitus, Therapeutics