The number of people worldwide over the age of 60 is expected to jump from 605 million in 2000 to two billion by 2050, and this has major implications for diabetes care, Irish doctors have warned.

According to the doctors, treating people with type 2 diabetes can be particularly challenging if they are older as they may be frail and/or have other medical conditions as well.

As people are living longer today, the number of older people with type 2 diabetes is increasing and this presents ‘significant challenges to healthcare systems', commented consultant endocrinologist, Prof Donal O'Shea, and endocrinology registrar, Dr Elmuataz Ahmed, of St Columcille's Hospital in Dublin.

They noted that around 20% of Irish people aged between 75 and 79 already have type 2 diabetes, and the management of these patients can be complex, especially if they are ‘functionally dependent', i.e. those who require help with activities of daily living, such as bathing and getting dressed.

In some of these cases, patients require some help, but in others, the patient may no longer be able to look after themselves at all, e.g. if they have dementia.

Meanwhile, the doctors also noted that while diabetes is common in older people, it often remains undiagnosed and in such cases, complications can result or the condition can have an impact on other medical conditions that the person may have.

The doctors emphasised the importance of prevention via lifestyle modification, however they pointed out that any lifestyle changes need to be tailored to each older individual. For example, frail and dependent older people should not be advised to make changes to their diet which could result in weight loss.

"Routine testing for undiagnosed diabetes should be performed at least every three years and more frequently if indicated, e.g. when an individual is admitted to a care home," the doctors added.

They made their comments in Forum Clinical Challenge. Forum is the journal of the Irish College of General Practitioners.