Relationship Between Sarcopenia and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Elderly Patients

Sarcopenia has been defined as a condition of decreased muscle strength, as measured by gait speed and grip strength, in the presence of low muscle mass. It is also known that the total muscle mass generally decreases by 1% after the age of 40 years. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a global health concern that has continued to affect people even during 2018; its prevalence increases with age. Among the several factors that lead to sarcopenia in elderly patients, insulin resistance is one. However, it is still not clear whether this resistance is a coincidence or a consequence of diabetes. Common pathophysiological mechanisms between sarcopenia and diabetes make it difficult to distinguish the order of development of sarcopenia and T2DM. Prospective studies have demonstrated that low muscle mass and muscle strength may be associated with the development of T2DM. It has also been shown that T2DM exacerbates sarcopenia in elderly T2DM patients. Nevertheless, further research is needed to ascertain the exact nature of the relationship between sarcopenia and T2DM, so that their underlying causes may be minimized.