Inadequate Glycaemic Control and Therapeutic Management of Adults over 65 Years Old with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in
F Formiga1, J Franch-Nadal, L Rodriguez
1Francesc Formiga, Geriatric Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, c/Feixa Llarga, s/n, 08907 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona (Spain), Tel.: + 34 932 607 699, Fax: +34 932 607 967,
Objectives:
The glycaemic goals for older patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) are recommended to avoid an HbA1c levels <7%. The purpose of this study was to analyse the glycaemic control and therapeutic management of older adults (≥65 years) with type 2 DM.
Design:
Pooled analysis of patients enrolled in three Spanish cross-sectional epidemiological studies.
Setting:
The study was conducted between 2009 and 2011 by primary care or specialist physicians.
Participants:
A total of 7,269 patients aged ≥65 years with type 2 DM.
Measurements:
Sociodemographic, medical history, lifestyle habits, biochemical laboratory parameters, comorbidities, type 2 DM complications, and pharmacological treatment data collected from medical records.
Results:
In total, data from 7,269 patients were analysed (mean age 73.4 years old; 48.4% male). A total of 10.9% of patients had HbA1c levels ≥8.5% and 43.2% <7%. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (82.0%) and dyslipidaemia (76.6%). The microvascular complications were mainly diabetic nephropathy (23.6%) and retinopathy (19.3%). Oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) were taken by 70.5% of patients (sulphonylureas 65.3%), 4.1% were taking insulin alone and 25.4% took both insulin and an OAD. Half of the patients (51.0%) were taking a combination of OADs.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, more than half of older patients with type 2 DM had unsatisfactory management: approximately one in ten had inadequate glycaemic control (HbA1c ≥8.5%) despite hypoglycaemic drugs and four in ten were potentially overtreated (HbA1c <7%).
More Related Videos
08:51Author Spotlight: Unveiling Neural Mechanisms Through Automated Evaluation of Motor Learning and Myelin Plasticity Studies Using the Erasmus Ladder
Published on: December 15, 2023
04:04Transauricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Electroencephalographic Assessment in Disorders of Consciousness
Published on: July 11, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
Diabetes: Management and Pharmacotherapy
Insulin remains the cornerstone of treatment for most patients with type 1 and many...
Type I Diabetes III: Clinical Manifestations
Type II Diabetes II: Pathophysiology
Type II Diabetes Mellitus III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis
