HYPOGLYCEMIA
Older adults are at a higher risk of hypoglycemia
for many reasons, including insulin
deficiency and progressive renal
insufficiency. In addition, older adults
tend to have higher rates of unidentified
cognitive deficits, causing difficulty in
complex self-care activities (e.g., glucose
monitoring, adjusting insulin doses, etc.).
These deficits have been associated with
increased risk of hypoglycemia and with
severe hypoglycemia linked to increased
dementia. Therefore, it is important to
routinely screen older adults for cognitive
dysfunction and discuss findings with the caregivers. Hypoglycemic events should
be diligentlymonitored, and glycemic targets
may need to be adjusted to accommodate
for the changing needs of the
older adult (2).