Diabetes mellitus in the older adult.

Diabetes mellitus is common in the elderly, and the incidence of new cases is 10 times greater for this age group than for persons under age 45. Increased ratio of fat to body weight, a low-carbohydrate diet, lack of exercise, drug regimens, and coexisting illness may all contribute to this population's predisposition to diabetes. The older individual, who may be less capable of coping physiologically with complications of diabetes, faces greater risks; the mortality rate for the elderly diabetic patient is 11%. Since there is no optimal therapy program, management must be individualized. There are advantages and disadvantages to each major approach to therapy: diet, exercise, oral sulfonylurea drugs, and insulin.