Chemoprophylaxis of diabetic nephropathy in the elderly

Drugs & Aging
E Jungmann

Abstract

Renal disease in elderly diabetic patients is costly in terms of morbidity, mortality and medical payments. Therefore, prevention of diabetic nephropathy has become a prominent goal in the treatment of diabetic patients. Preventive treatment should begin not later than at the stage of persistent microalbuminuria, and regular screening for microalbuminuria is recommended for both elderly and younger diabetic patients. Improved metabolic control, through diet and hypoglycaemic therapy, has been demonstrated to lower urinary albumin excretion. The target level of glycated haemoglobin is < 8%, or < 2% higher than the upper limit of normal in nondiabetic people. Insulin therapy has no adverse effects on renal indices, unless it increases bodyweight and consequently raises blood pressure. To preserve renal function in elderly diabetic patients, blood pressure should be kept well below 140/90 mm Hg. Treatment with ACE inhibitors may be the 'gold standard' intervention, and should be initiated at the lowest possible dosage and then titrated until the maximum tolerated dosage has been reached. Nonchronotropic calcium antagonists have been shown to be as effective as ACE inhibitors with regard to their effects on blood pressure, renal ha...Continue Reading

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Apr 25, 2003·Drugs & Aging·Eckart Jungmann

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