PROFILE OF ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) represents a chronic metabolic disorder defined by elevated blood glucose levels and high glycated hemoglobin, which may or may not be accompanied by glucose in the urine. This condition stems from insufficient insulin production by the pancreas, impaired responsiveness of target tissues to insulin (insulin resistance), or a combination of both factors. Prolonged hyperglycemia is associated with the dysfunction and eventual failure of multiple organs, particularly the kidneys, heart, nerves, eyes, and blood vessels. Material and Methods:  Hospital based observational study of one year duration. All elderly patients age above 65 years presenting in medical OPD of Dr. RPGMC Tanda with the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus were included in the study. Age less than 65 yrs and failure to give consent were excluded. Results:- The patient cohort had a mean age of 70 years, with a higher prevalence in females (56.7%). On average, patients had an 8.9-year history of the disease, and a significant majority (80%) exhibited poor glycemic control. The most frequent clinical presentations included osmotic symptoms (62.2%), paresthesia (52.2%), and nocturia (38.9%). Hypertension was the dominant comorbidity (60%), followed by chronic kidney disease (11.1%) and coronary artery disease (6.7%). Microvascular Complications: Clinical investigations revealed alarmingly high rates of disease-related complications, notably albuminuria (95%), retinopathy (90%), anemia (80%), and neuropathy (54.4%). Conclusions and Recommendations: Consistent with broader population studies, the high incidence of poorly controlled diabetes and severe microvascular complications (like retinopathy and nephropathy) highlights an urgent need for regular screening. The study strongly advocates for early intervention and individualized management strategies to mitigate disease progression.