Knack of treatment with oral hypoglycemic drugs in the elderly
Komatsu, M.; Hashizume, K.
Nihon Rinsho. Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine 64(1): 93-98
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0047-1852 PMID: 16408454 Document Number: 598522
In the treatment of elderly type 2 diabetes, it is important to detect hypoglycemia correctly, because the elderly patients often exhibit atypical symptoms from hypoglycemia. Oral hypoglycemic agents (OHA), which do not stimulate insulin release from pancreas, is rather safe and may be the first choice for the elderly patients. OHAs that stimulate insulin secretion weakly or temporally might be useful drug for controlling elderly diabetic patients characterized by post-prandial hyperglycemia. Strong-acting sulfonylurea must be use with a great caution. Importantly, once glycemic control comes to a fail even after an appropriate combination of OHAs, initiation of insulin injection therapy must be considered.