Section 13. Older Adults
(https://doi.org/10.2337/dc23-S013)
The language in Recommendation 13.5 was strengthened for older adults with type 1 diabetes to recommend continuous glucose monitoring to reduce hypoglycemia with an evidence grade of A based on a 6-month extension of the Wireless Innovation in Seniors with Diabetes Mellitus (WISDM) trial and observational data from the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial/Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (DCCT/EDIC) study.
Recommendation 13.6 was added to communicate that for older adults with type 2 diabetes on multiple daily doses of insulin, continuous glucose monitoring should be considered to improve glycemic outcomes and decrease glucose variability, with an evidence grade of B based on results of the DIAMOND (Multiple Daily Injections and Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Diabetes) trial.
A new Recommendation 13.7 was added: for older adults with type 1 diabetes, consider the use of automated insulin delivery systems (evidence grade B) and other advanced insulin delivery devices such as connected pens (evidence grade E) should be considered to reduce risk of hypoglycemia, based on individual ability. The addition of this recommendation was based on the results of two small randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in older adults, which demonstrated that hybrid closed-loop advanced insulin delivery improved glucose metrics relative to sensor-augmented pump therapy.
Blood pressure treatment goals in Table 13.1 were lowered to align with evidence from multiple recent trials.
Recommendation 13.15 was split into two recommendations (now 13.17 and 13.18) to acknowledge the conceptual differences between deintensification of goals (13.17) and simplification of complex regimens (13.18).
In recommendation 13.17, deintensification of treatment goals is now recommended to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia if it can be achieved within the individualized A1C target.
In a new recommendation 13.18, simplification of complex treatment plans (especially insulin) is now recommended to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia and polypharmacy and decrease the burden of the disease if it can be achieved within the individualized A1C target.
Recommendation 13.22 was added to consider use of CGM to assess risk for hypoglycemia in older adults treated with sulfonylureas or insulin, despite the lack of evidence.