Nutrition and the older diabetic

Abnormal glucose tolerance occurs in more than 60% of adults older than 60 years of age because of a decrease in glucose tolerance as a result of decreased insulin sensitivity and impairment of pancreatic beta-cell function. Because the population of the United States is aging, the incidence of diabetes mellitus continues to increase. Therefore, the role of dietary treatment for diabetes in the older individual is becoming more important to understand. Diet recommendations for patients with diabetes mellitus mainly focus on young and middle-aged individuals-few definitive studies have been done in the older person. This article reviews the contributions of various nutritional elements to the health status of older people.