Influencing Factors of Glycemic Variability in Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE:To explore the influencing factors of glycemic variability in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.METHODS:A total of 337 elderly patients received continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) from January 2007 to January 2011. The evaluation variables of glycemic variability included standard deviation of blood glucose (SDBG), mean amplitude of glycemic excursion (MAGE), absolute means of daily differences (MODD) and postprandial glucose excursion (PPGE). The normal reference value of glycemic variability was defined according to the diagnostic criteria of Chinese Diabetes Society guideline.RESULTS:The difference of glycemic variability was compared by gender, age and diabetic duration. The values of SDBG, MAGE, MODD and PPGE in females were all higher than those in males (P < 0.05) and no difference existed between various age groups. The level of glycemic variability increased gradually with the extension of diabetic duration (P < 0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that gender (MAGE: OR = 0.44, P = 0.023; SDBG: OR = 0.39, P = 0.023), diabetic duration (MAGE: OR = 1.58, P = 0.006; SDBG: OR = 2.42, P < 0.001) and HbA1c (MAGE: OR = 2.44, P < 0.001; SDBG: OR = 2.68, P < 0.001) were significant influencing factors of glycemic variability (MAGE/SDBG) in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes (P < 0.05), but not age, body mass index (BMI) or diabetic neuropathy.CONCLUSION:Gender, diabetic duration and HbA1c are significant influencing factors of glycemic variability while age, BMI or diabetic neuropathy has no association with glycemic variability in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.