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Due to the progressive nature of type 2 diabetes many older people require insulin therapy. In this age group the achievement of individualized therapy goals should also include maintaining good quality of life. Avoiding hypoglycaemia is the priority. The aim of the study was to determine the distinctiveness of insulin therapy in patients aged 75 year and older when compared to those aged 65-74. The study included 1,914 T2DM patients 65 years of age and older divided into two age groups (group 1, age 65-74 and group 2, age ≥ 75 years ). The observation lasted 3 months between two visits. The analysis is part of a multicentre observational study involving 4,386 people with T2DM treated with human insulin (Gensulin). With adjustment of basal insulin dose significant reduction in A1c was achieved in both study groups. (from 8.5% to 7.8% in the group 1, and from 8.4% to 7.7% in group 2). Achievement A1C target 7% in group 1 increased from 6.3% to 19.3% while target A1c ≤ 8% from 28,0% to 34.0%. In group 2 from 6% to 17,0% and from 56,9% to 81,2% consecutively. A total of 98.2% of patients in group 2 achieved their target A1c. The median daily final insulin dose was 36U in both groups. No severe hypoglycaemia episodes occured. The lack of hypoglycaemia was declared by 83.7% and 82.1% in group 1 and group 2 respectively. Improvement in compliance with recommendations in both age groups was observed, as well as increased satisfaction with the treatment used. There were no significant differences in insulin therapy between patients aged 65-74 years and ≥ 75 years. The optimalization of insulin therapy in elderly patients helps to achieve the target A1c and age over 75 years is not a limiting factor in insulin treatment. Disclosure G.J. Dzida: None. K. Pasterczyk-Bielska: None. M. Masierek: Employee; BIOTON.
Dzida et al. (Fri,) studied this question.