'Leave Well Enough Alone': A New Mantra for Management of Diabetes in the Elderly

A multitude of epidemiological cross-sectional and case-control studies have now indicated that overly-stringent or 'tight' glycaemic control in the elderly is at best of no benefit to the patient and at worst a reckless endeavour. Rodiguez-Poncelas et al. recently demonstrated that this issue remains unresolved by presenting data in the International Journal of Clinical Practice on this somewhat under-acknowledged aspect of diabetes care.¹ Perhaps now is the time for physicians to take note and implement a mantra of 'leave well enough alone' in the case of the diabetic elderly. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.