GLUCOSE HANDLING, DIABETES AND AGING

The relationship between ageing and glucose homeostasis is still open debate. In fact, the mechanisms by which glucose metabolism is progres sively impaired with increasing age are not completely understood. In the present report we have reviewed the possible mechanisms (impaired insulin secretion and action, role of the environmental factors) which may lead to the impairment in glucose handling associated with ageing . We also point out that not all aged subjects are glucose intolerant; in fact, it has been suggested that only those aged subjects who pres ent more than one pathological finding do in fact develop impaired glu cose handling.