Diabetes in institutionalized elderly people

• Autores: Cristóbal Gallego Muñoz, María Eugenia Rodríguez Mateo
• Localización: European journal of clinical pharmacy: atención farmacéutica, ISSN 2385-409X, Vol. 17, Nº. 4, 2015, págs. 8-8
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is increasing due to a growing population, with age being one of the main factors driving this increase.

    In general, the risk factors for hypoglycaemia in elderly patients with diabetes are frailty, advanced age, polymedication, recent hospitalization, malnutrition, use of insulin or medium to long-acting sulfonylureas, acute intercurrent illness, prior asymptomatic hypoglycaemia and an abnormal counterregulatory response.

    Studies have demonstrated the importance of glycaemic control for reducing the risk of microvascular complications and cardiovascular disease in patients with recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes.

    Treatment for institutionalized elderly patients with diabetes needs to be personalized according to comorbidities, functional dependence and life expectancy and the patient’s and/or care providers abilities.

    It is recommended that residents should be served a regular menu with consistent amounts of carbohydrates in their meals and that antidiabetic treatment could be intensified if necessary.

    Ellderly institutionalized patients with diabetes are a specific population requiring metabolic control, for whom careful personalization of the objectives and a risk-benefit analysis of the drug therapy are necessary