Open AccessAntihyperglycaemic therapy in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes: potential role of incretin mimetics and DPP‐4 inhibitors
Author(s) -
Mathieu C.,
Bollaerts K.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
international journal of clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.756
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1742-1241
pISSN - 1368-5031
DOI - 10.1111/j.1742-1241.2007.01437.x
Subject(s) - medicine , exenatide , sitagliptin , vildagliptin , incretin , liraglutide , type 2 diabetes , polypharmacy , diabetes mellitus , hypoglycemia , sitagliptin phosphate , adverse effect , intensive care medicine , dipeptidyl peptidase 4 , alogliptin , lixisenatide , endocrinology
Summary Management of elderly patients with type II diabetes is complicated by age‐related changes in physiology, comorbidities, polypharmacy and heterogeneity of functional status. A minimum goal in antidiabetic treatment in this population is to achieve a level of glycaemic control that avoids acute complications of diabetes, adverse effects and reduction in quality of life. Hypoglycaemia is a particular problem in elderly patients, and many antidiabetic agents pose increased risk for hypoglycaemia. In addition, many standard agents pose risks for older patients because of reduced renal function and common comorbidities. Newer agents based on enhancing incretin activity, including the glucagon‐like peptide‐1 mimetics exenatide and liraglutide and the oral dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors sitagliptin and vildagliptin, may offer particular advantages in elderly patients with diabetes.