[What therapeutic goals in the aged diabetic patients?]

Diabetes in the elderly is a growing public health problem, impacting both quality of life and autonomy. In the absence of prospective studies, the therapeutic goal will depend both on classical diabetes-related criteria and on geriatric assessment to determine the degree of frailty. The glycemic goal for elderly diabetic patients in good general health is roughly the same as for younger patients, while the target should be less strict for frail patients, in order to avoid both hypoglycemia and excessive treatment constraints that have no direct benefit. As elderly diabetic patients have more frequent severe degenerative disorders and other cardiovascular risk factors, the treatment goals must take into account not only diabetes itself but also the consequences of aging. This clinical assessment, which is crucial for individually tailored treatment, must be undertaken by a multidisciplinary team.