J Korean Diabetes.  2019 Dec;20(4):215-219. 10.4093/jkd.2019.20.4.215.

Changes in Glucose Metabolism with Aging

• Hong EG

• KMID: 2468008
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4093/jkd.2019.20.4.215

Abstract

The increasing risk of glucose intolerance and diabetes associated with aging is well established. However, it is difficult to determine whether changes in glucose metabolism result from biological aging itself or due to various environmental factors that occur during the aging process. Many epidemiologic studies have shown that plasma glucose levels after oral glucose tolerance test rise consecutively for every decade of age, but many of these studies also demonstrated the effects of environmental factors including obesity and exercise. In some studies, the development of insulin resistance and insulin secretion defects due to biological aging itself have also been identified as major etiologic factors of glucose intolerance. However, the rate of diabetes development due to these factors is expected to be very slow and largely preventable by addressing environmental risk factors.

Keyword

Aging; Carbohydrate metabolism; Incretins; Insulin resistance; Insulin secretion

MeSH Terms

Aging*
Blood Glucose
Carbohydrate Metabolism
Epidemiologic Studies
Glucose Intolerance
Glucose Tolerance Test
Glucose*
Incretins
Insulin
Insulin Resistance
Metabolism*
Obesity
Risk Factors
Glucose
Incretins
Insulin

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Top, OGTT results in 2,777 nondiabetic participants from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Each line corresponds to one decade (3~9). Bottom, OGTT results adjusted for body mass index (BMI).

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