title: Diabetes in elderly adults.
abstract: Diabetes is common in the elderly population. By the age of 75, approximately 20% of the population are afflicted with this illness. Diabetes in elderly adults is metabolically distinct from diabetes in younger patient populations, and the approach to therapy needs to be different in this age group. Diabetes is associated with substantial morbidity from macro- and microvascular complications. Several lines of evidence suggest that optimal glycemic control and risk factor modification can substantially reduce the risk of complications in elderly patients. In the past, treatment options were limited. However, recent studies have delineated several new and exciting therapeutic opportunities for elderly patients with diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. meneilly@interchange.ubc.ca
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Meneilly
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tessier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004035:Diet Therapy; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005905:Glyburide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D065089:Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D000077154:Rosiglitazone; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D065089:Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D013844:Thiazoles; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D000077154:Rosiglitazone; D008687:Metformin; D005905:Glyburide