Posted: April 30th, 2022

What’s the connection between age and increased risk of dying from high blood glucose?

What’s the connection between age and increased risk of dying from high blood glucose?
The connection between age and increased risk of dying from high blood glucose is a complex and multifactorial one. High blood glucose, also known as hyperglycemia, can result from impaired glucose metabolism, which can be caused by various factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, genetic predisposition, and environmental stressors. Hyperglycemia can lead to chronic complications such as cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, nerve damage, and eye problems, which can increase the risk of mortality in people with diabetes or prediabetes .

Age is a significant risk factor for developing impaired glucose metabolism and diabetes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the global prevalence of diabetes among adults aged 18 years and older rose from 4.7% in 1980 to 8.5% in 2014 . The WHO also estimates that diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in 2016, accounting for 1.6 million deaths worldwide . Aging is associated with physiological changes that can affect glucose homeostasis, such as decreased muscle mass, increased fat mass, reduced insulin sensitivity, and impaired insulin secretion . Moreover, aging can also influence the development and progression of diabetes complications, as older adults may have more comorbidities, polypharmacy, cognitive impairment, and functional decline .

However, not all older adults are equally susceptible to the adverse effects of high blood glucose. Some studies have suggested that there may be a U-shaped or J-shaped relationship between blood glucose levels and mortality in older adults, meaning that both very high and very low blood glucose levels can increase the risk of death . Furthermore, some factors may moderate the relationship between blood glucose and mortality in older adults, such as gender, body mass index (BMI), cholesterol levels, and glucose variability . Therefore, it is important to consider the individual characteristics and preferences of older adults when managing their blood glucose levels and preventing diabetes complications.

In conclusion, age and high blood glucose are both associated with increased risk of mortality, but the relationship is not linear or simple. There are many factors that can influence glucose metabolism and its outcomes in older adults, and more research is needed to understand the optimal blood glucose targets and interventions for this population.

Bibliography/References:

: The Relationship Between Aging and Blood Glucose Levels | Signos. https://www.signos.com/blog/age-glucose-levels
: GLOBAL REPORT ON DIABETES – World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/204871/1/9789241565257_eng.pdf
: BLOOD GLUCOSE AND DIABETES MELLITUS PREDICTING MORTALITY IN PERSONS … https://academic.oup.com/ageing/article/16/3/165/34850
: Age moderates the relationships between obesity, glucose variability … https://jintensivecare.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40560-021-00582-4
: JPM | Free Full-Text | Age-Related Changes in Lipid and Glucose … – MDPI. https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4426/12/2/280
: Age moderates the relationships between obesity, glucose variability … https://jintensivecare.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40560-021-00582-4

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