Diabetes among the Elderly

Diabetes among the Elderly

Introduction

The recent data, derived from the U. S Census Bureau has highlighted that the number of Americans, who are old in age in increasingly on a constant basis. It is important to note that in the year of 1994, it was estimated that every 1 of 8 American was over sixty five. However, according to the estimate of 2020, every 1 in 6 American would be over sixty five.

Thus, it is highly important to note that because of the factor of increasing age, a risk in the development of diabetes exists. According to the 3rd National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), 18.5 percent of the people who fall under the ages of 65 and 74 are highly likely to be the carriers of diabetes. However, ½ of these carriers have not been diagnosed with diabetes previously by their preferred physicians. In addition to that, if we include the subjects, who have impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), around forty percent of the old age population is known to have some level of carbohydrate intolerance (Reed et.al, 2005).

Within the ethnic groups such as African Americans as well as the Mexican Americans, the notion of diabetes is witnessed to be twice as high as compared to the Caucasians. However, it is important to note that the maximum occurrence of diabetes has been in the Prima Indians. It mostly prevailed in the old age people, which exceed more than fifty percent.

It is highly important to note that there are high implications of this disease, keeping in mind the economic point of view. An estimate highlights that the yearly cost of the care of diabetes for old age people has exceeded $5 billion. Regardless of the health, social and economic problems associated with the prevalence of this disease, diabetes in the old age people is mostly known to be undertreated and unrecognized (Meneilly et.al, 2006).

One of the chief barriers to the finest diabetes treatment management in the old age people is the enormous misconceptions in both, the public as well as the providers of health care. Some of the major misconceptions are highlighted in Table 1 and we'll try in addressing these. In addition to that, the strategies of current management will also be discussed, which involves the team of interdisciplinary.

Pathogenesis of Diabetes in Older Adults 

Because of the issues, highlighted above, it is considered that an expected result of aging is glucose intolerance. However, there have been many differences in this diseases' prevalence amongst various communities. It is important to note that in some regions of the world, diabetes doesn't exceed 3.5 percent with an increase in age (McLarty et.al, 2012).

This observation has suggested that most of the cases of diabetes within the people of old age, residing in the United States are basically easily preventable. It is known that the 3 most critical factors in the pathogenesis of this disease in the people of old age are considered to be changes in the composition ...