Diabetes in the elderly: Remarks from an epidemiological study carried out in a town in south-eastern sicily (militello V.C.)

Longer mean life span and life expectancy of diabetics and increased factors that favor onset of type II diabetes have determined greater prevalence of diabetes in the elderly population. According to HANES II, it is 17% in the elderly in U.S.A. We carried out an epidemiological study on the over 65 year olds in Militello V.C. and examined 910 elderly subjects (72.05% of the total elderly population). All were tested for peripheral fasting blood glucose, body weight and height and filled out a questionnaire with general and diabetological questions. The values recommended by the NDDG were used to diagnose diabetes. One hundred and sixty-one diabetics (25 newly diagnosed) were observed (17.69%). Onset had occurred before age 65 (aged diabetics) in 72 cases and after 65 in 89 (senile diabetics). Mean blood glucose was 152.91 +/- 55.56 mg/dl. Our results indicated that sulfonylureas and/or biguanides are first choice treatment. By grouping the diabetics on the basis of age at onset and duration of disease, a fall in the number of cases treated with diet alone and hypoglycemic drugs and an increase in patients on insulin were seen in aged diabetics as the disease evolves. On the contrary, there was a rise in the number of senile diabetics on hypoglycemic drugs.