4 - Aging Endo

Question 1

plasma glucose changes w/ aging

Answer 1

fasting inc 1mg/dl per decade

post prandial inc 8-10 mg/dl per decade

Question 2

max post prandial glucose based on age

Answer 2

100 + age

Question 3

why do old people have higher blood sugar?

Answer 3

become insulin resistant w/ age due to inc visceral body fat and inflammation assoc w/ aging

Question 4

problem w/ tight glucose control in elderly

Answer 4

if you hold them to a strict plasma glucose level based on young people, they will “starve” because the insulin is less available to them so they need to stay at a higher level for their cells to get enough

Question 5

important changes in thyroid axis in old people

Answer 5

slightly dec free T3
reduced daily req for thyroxine replacement
will suppress thyroid fn while ill or malnourished - euthyroid sick syndrome

Question 6

basic thoughts about replacing GH / IGF1

Answer 6

can have a few pos effects - inc muscle mass, etc - but overall causes more harm than good probably