Re-evaluation of Diabetes Clinical Practice for the Aging Society

Aiming at Enrichment of Medical Team Approach and Collaboration

Abstract

In recent years, the number of elderly diabetic patients have been increasing. Elderly diabetic patients share many characteristics in terms of glycemic and insulin responses and clinical conditions such as complications. Additionally, decreased cognitive functions are more pronounced among elderly patients with poorly-controlled hyperglycemia. In elderly patients on insulin therapy, subjective symptoms including decreased cognitive functions caused by elevated blood glucose levels are more likely to disappear than when they are on oral hypoglycemic medications. To achieve successful outcomes with the treatment, it is important that medical professionals closely collaborate with each other to provide “medical team approach” that enables all participants to make the best use of their specialized skills.