Impact of glucose level on morbidity and mortality inelderly with diabetes and pre-diabetes

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus （DM）increases with age and reaches 25% in those olderthan age 65 years. Pre-diabetes status is also verycommon in the elderly, and is present in about half ofthose age 75 years and older. Many physicians care forelderly patients with diabetes and pre-diabetes, dealingwith the challenge of controlling glucose levels andimproving health with minimal adverse events. Over thelast decade, research on diabetes among the elderlypopulation has proliferated, adding new information onthis topic. This review summarizes the updated medicalliterature on diabetes and pre-diabetes in the elderly,including the significance of pre-diabetic conditions,new-onset DM in the elderly and long-standing DM.The role of therapeutic intervention and the level ofglycemic control for this population are discussed inparticular.