Type 2 diabetes: causes, complications, and new screening recommendations. I

Type 2 diabetes mellitus, one of the most prevalent and disruptive diseases in our older population, occurs in approximately 10% of persons over age 65. Its cause is usually a combination of deficient insulin production and resistance to insulin. In approximately one-half of those with diabetes, symptoms occur slowly over time and escape diagnosis. Complications include cardiovascular disease with myocardial infarction and stroke, nephropathy, retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, and sexual dysfunction. Risk factors include age, family history, obesity, and sedentary lifestyle. Screening and early diagnosis are important secondary means of prevention, but physicians should also think about primary prevention based on family history, diet, and physical activity.