How Does Diabetes Affect Different Age Groups?
Approximately half of all diabetes cases occur in people older than 55 years of age and 40% of individuals over the age of 60 have impaired glucose tolerance. This means that the elderly are at high risk because the prevalence of diabetes increases with age, especially the risk of Type II diabetes. One in four individuals over the age of 60 has Type II diabetes. A main contributing factor to developing Type II diabetes is declining physical and metabolic activity, which comes with age. Also, reduced mitochondrial activity in muscle cells, which progresses with age, is a serious concern for seniors because it is a major cause for insulin resistance. There is also an increasing trend of diabetes in younger age groups. From 1990 to 1998, the incidence of diabetes in 30-39 year olds jumped by 76%. This increasing trend also includes children. Today, 30% of pediatric patients in the U.S are Type II diabetic. Because diabetes is not regularly screened in children, many children go undiagnose
