Editorial: Diabetes Mellitus: A Major Disease Of Older Persons
Open Access
- 1 May 2000
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in The Journals of Gerontology: Series A
- Vol. 55 (5) , M255-M256
- https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/55.5.m255
Abstract
DIABETES mellitus occurs in approximately 1 in 5 older persons (1). As a group, older persons with diabetes have experienced not only an increase in mortality (2)(3)(4) but also a decrease in function and quality of life (5)(6)(7)(8). In addition, diabetes in older persons is associated with an increase in falls that result in injury (9). Hyperglycemia is associated with cognitive decline (10)(11), and diabetes leads to the development of vascular dementia (12). Diabetes appears to aggravate the age-related decline in cognitive ability (13). Persons with diabetes mellitus are more likely to develop pressure ulcers (14)(15) and congestive heart failure (16). Diabetes is a common cause of incontinence and increases the propensity to develop tuberculosis (17). Diabetes is truly a condition that accelerates the development of Isaac's “giants of geriatrics” in older persons.Keywords
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