In 2019, the Endocrine Society released clinical practice guidelines on the diagnosis and management of diabetes and its comorbidities in older adults.[1,2]
Screening for diabetes or prediabetes with the fasting plasma glucose test or HbA1c analysis is recommended for patients aged 65 years or older without known diabetes.
A 2-hour glucose post–oral glucose tolerance test is suggested for patients aged 65 years or older without known diabetes in whom results from fasting plasma glucose or HbA1c analysis have indicated that prediabetes is present.
To delay the onset of diabetes, it is recommended that patients aged 65 years or older with prediabetes adopt a lifestyle in line with that presented in the Diabetes Prevention Program.
It is recommended that patients aged 65 years or older with diabetes participate in outpatient regimens specifically conceived to minimize hypoglycemia.
Lifestyle modification is recommended as the first-line treatment for hyperglycemia in ambulatory individuals aged 65 years or older with diabetes.
Nutritional status assessment for the detection and management of malnutrition is recommended in patients aged 65 years or older with diabetes.
It is recommended that along with lifestyle changes, patients aged 65 years or older with diabetes undergo initial oral drug treatment with metformin, for glycemic management; significant kidney function impairment (estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min/1.73 m2) or gastrointestinal intolerance should preclude implementation of this recommendation.
If metformin therapy and lifestyle changes have not led a patient aged 65 years or older with diabetes to achieve his/her glycemic target, it is recommended that metformin treatment be combined with therapy employing other oral or injectable agents and/or insulin.
To reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease outcomes, stroke, and progressive chronic kidney disease, it is recommended that the target blood pressure in patients aged 65-85 years with diabetes be 140/90 mm Hg.
It is recommended that an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker be administered as first-line therapy in patients aged 65 years or older with diabetes and hypertension.
Statin therapy and an annual lipid profile are recommended in patients aged 65 years or older with diabetes to reduce absolute cardiovascular disease events and all-cause mortality.
For detection of retinal disease, annual comprehensive eye examinations are recommended for patients aged 65 years or older with diabetes.
It is recommended that patients aged 65 years or older with diabetes who are not on dialysis be screened annually for chronic kidney disease, with determination of the estimated glomerular filtration rate and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio.
For more information, please go to Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
For more Clinical Practice Guidelines, please go to Guidelines.
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Cite this: Diabetes Treatment in Older Adults Clinical Practice Guidelines (2019) - Medscape - May 01, 2019.
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