title: [Epidemiology of elderly diabetes mellitus in Japan].
abstract: Glucose tolerance progressively declines with age, and there is a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes and post challenge hyperglycemia in the older population. Diabetes in the elderly is not a single entity, but a heterogeneous group of conditions. A further 9% may have undetected/asymptomatic hyperglycemia. Several studies have also shown that fasting blood glucose rises with age (about 1-2 mg/dl/decade) and postprandial glucose by about 15 mg/dl/decade, leading to a mild glucose intolerance. Age-related glucose intolerance in humans is often accompanied by insulin resistance. The relative contribution of decreased insulin secretion vs. increased insulin resistance to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus has been the subject of long-standing controversy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Medicine, Nippon Medical School.
authors.forename: Yoshimasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Igari
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Kenzo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oba
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D019518:Postprandial Period; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis