Older adults

Intensification of diabetes medications in older adults at the point of discharge from hospital is associated with an increased risk for hypoglycemia, without gains in glycemic control, research suggests.

Our clinical advisors discuss their EASD 2019 highlights, including new treatment options for children and older adults with type 2 diabetes, the complexities surrounding hypoglycemia prevention, and the implications of the VERIFY trial.

Diabetologist Amar Puttanna addresses growing concerns about the rise of dementia in diabetes care and highlights where guidelines, research efforts, and management options are needed to tackle this comorbidity.

Liu CL et al. BMC Endocr Disord 2018; 18: 45. doi: 10.1186/s12902-018-0273-z

An initiative involving “virtual ward” meetings between diabetes specialist nurses, community nurses, and consultants has led to improvements in glycemic control and a reduction in nurse visits among older diabetes patients in North East Essex, study results suggest.

The drive to achieve lower HbA1c targets in older patients is not without concern or risk. Our UK Board address concerns highlighted by recent trials and discuss whether current guidelines do enough to mitigate the risks of overtreatment.

Research suggests that older diabetes patients, particularly those using insulin, often have nonspecific symptoms of hypoglycemia that are overlooked by healthcare providers.

An EASD session on optimizing patient outcomes included research into the effect of guideline adherence, predictors of changes in medication adherence, and overtreatment of older people with diabetes.