Diabetes mellitus en el envejecimiento

ABSTRACT

Diabetes mellitus represents one of the major chronic disorders of the growing population. The reasons for the glucose intolerance of the aged and the increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus in elderly persons are multifactorial. Diabetes also directly damages the myocardium, predisposing elderly diabetic patients to cardiac failure. Hypertension is also a common problem in elderly patients with diabetes, in these patients, hypertension is primarily related to obesity. The obesity related hyperinsulinemia diabetes of the elderly is seldom ketogenic and does not tend to produce acidosis and coma; atherosclerotic cardiovascular sequelas therefore, present the major hazards. The gravest neurologic complication in elderly patients are cerebrovascular accidents. Diabetes appears to be responsible for impotence in 10 to 20 percent of older patients attending primary care physicians. The occurrence of Diabetic retinopathy is common. Diabetic patients have an increased incidence of cataracts. Diabetes and infections are both common in the elderly