[Mild glucose intolerance in the elderly].

Glucose tolerance has been shown to decline with age. Mechanisms of this phenomenon are not yet completely defined. The insulin response to glucose shows little change with age. The primary cause results from resistance to the ability of insulin to stimulate glucose uptake. Many factors, including composition of diet with regard to both caloric adequacy and carbohydrate content, decreased physical activity and decreased lean body mass, probably contribute to the insulin resistance. Mild glucose intolerance in the elderly, as in young adults, increases the risk for the development of overt diabetes mellitus and is a risk factor for the development of atherosclerotic diseases.