Diabetes Metab J.  2016 Jun;40(3):182-189. 10.4093/dmj.2016.40.3.182.

Sarcopenia, Frailty, and Diabetes in Older Adults

• Jang HC

• KMID: 2308625
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4093/dmj.2016.40.3.182

Abstract

Populations are aging and the prevalence of diabetes mellitus is increasing tremendously. The number of older people with diabetes is increasing unexpectedly. Aging and diabetes are both risk factors for functional disability. Thus, increasing numbers of frail or disabled older patients with diabetes will increase both direct and indirect health-related costs. Diabetes has been reported as an important risk factor of developing physical disability in older adults. Older people with diabetes have lower muscle mass and weaker muscle strength. In addition, muscle quality is poorer in diabetic patients. Sarcopenia and frailty have a common soil and may share a similar pathway for multiple pathologic processes in older people. Sarcopenia is thought to be an intermediate step in the development of frailty in patients with diabetes. Thus, early detection of sarcopenia and frailty in older adults with diabetes should be routine clinical practice to prevent frailty or to intervene earlier in frail patients.

Keyword

Diabetes; Disability; Frailty; Sarcopenia

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Aging
Diabetes Mellitus
Humans
Muscle Strength
Pathologic Processes
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Sarcopenia*
Soil
Soil

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Changes of appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM), and ASM indices according to age trends in Korean (A) men and (B) women using data from Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Study 2008 to 2010. ht2, height squared (m). Modified from Kim et al. [4].

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