노인당뇨병 치료의 최신지견

Recent Advances in the Treatment of Diabetes in the Elderly

As the elderly population increases, the prevalence of diabetes among individuals aged ≥65 years is steadily increasing. Therefore, individualized treatment strategies and methods for blood glucose management in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus should be established. Since symptoms related to blood glucose levels significantly differ among elderly patients, their physical and mental functional status, social conditions, and degree of frailty should be assessed comprehensively. Moreover, personalized treatment goals should be set according to their “life expectancy”, “current health status”, and “degree of frailty.” In selecting medications for diabetes, it is essential to consider the drug efficacy, understand the side effects and drug interactions according to each mechanism, and select an appropriate drug based on individualized treatment goals that fit the patient’s living environment and overall health status. Elderly patients at a high risk of hypoglycemia should set a flexible treatment target for blood glucose levels and continuously monitor the effects of medications and metabolic functions, considering cardiovascular risk factors and renal function status. Additionally, the occurrence of hypoglycemia should be monitored to manage blood glucose levels stably.