Medical Nutrition Therapy for Older Adults with Diabetes / 임상당뇨병

ABSTRACT

Type 2 diabetes mellitus becomes increasingly more common with age. As such, older adults represent a very heterogeneous group in terms of functional ability and cognitive status. Older adults with diabetes are distinct from younger adults with diabetes, leading to differences in therapeutic approach. Some important goals of nutrition therapy in older adults with diabetes include minimizing hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia and meeting individualized glycemic goals. Nutrition therapy for older adults with diabetes should include meeting the nutritional needs for patients while considering their age, evaluating their fluid intake, avoiding significant weight loss, and being sensitive to individual preferences and long standing food habits while advocating good nutrition. However, there is little evidence for nutritional guidelines for older adults with diabetes, thus more research is needed.