Diabetes mellitus in old age

In the treatment of diabetes in old age cognitive, functional and constitutional resources of the individual must be taken into account. Purely glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c)-oriented treatment goals are less relevant. The primary focus should be freedom from symptoms while avoiding hypoglycemia and maintaining the quality of life. The geriatric assessment helps to clarify the current functional, psychological and cognitive status as well as the need for support in multimorbid older people and to define appropriate treatment strategies. With drug treatment of diabetes in old age, particular attention must be paid to renal insufficiency and dehydration as well as slow dose adjustments. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), diabetes patients belong to the risk group for a severe course of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); further risk factors are high blood pressure, underlying oncological diseases, cerebrovascular and coronary heart diseases.