Glucose intolerance in the elderly: an open debate

The presence of glucose intolerance in aged people is a well known physio-pathological condition. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which it takes place are still unclear. In the present report we have reviewed the possible mechanisms (impaired insulin secretion and action, role of the environmental factors) which may contribute to the impaired glucose handling of aging. Moreover, we have also pointed out that not all aged subjects are glucose intolerant; in fact it seems clear that only aged subjects who present more than one of the pathological findings reported above may develop impaired glucose handling.