Diabetes management in older people: a focus on cardiovascular risk reduction

Cardiovascular disease remains the most common cause of death in persons with diabetes regardless of age. Increasing age combined with diabetes exert a synergistic effect on the vascular system increasing the atherosclerosis burden in older people with diabetes. Due to their high baseline risk, they stand to benefit most from interventions to reduce cardiovascular risk. Older people with diabetes are functionally heterogeneous and their management is challenging. Fit and independent individuals are likely to benefit from tight targets while a relaxed approach putting quality of life at the heart of management plans is more appropriate in the frail and dependent individuals with limited life expectancy.