My A1C's have been consistantly 6.2 or 6.3 for the past several years. I had my quarterly check-up last week and my A1C was 6.5 I thought this was too high. My doctor said the ranges had changed, especially for people my age. He said we over 60's (I am 60) tend to not be as healthy when we cut back too much. Since he is the same age and also a Diabetic I'm inclined to believe him, but I don't know.
Has anyone else heard this?
I just read an article about that!
Experts Change Their Tune About Whether People With Longstanding Diabetes Should Pursue Low Blood Sugar
http://www.diabeteshealth.com ... One of 2008's most interesting developments was the change in one long-standing recommendation for treating diabetes in people who have had the disease for a long time: Work intensely on getting blood sugar levels as low as possible.
... experts are increasingly questioning that approach, suggesting that long-time diabetics might be better off working on lowering their blood pressure and cholesterol rather than trying to achieve an A1c of 7% and lower. ...
Most people who have been newly or recently diagnosed with type 2 can reach the ADA-suggested A1c numbers fairly easily through a combination of diet, exercise, and medication. But for people who have had diabetes for years and are facing the consequences of long-term damage such as heart disease, getting to 7%-or even 8% or 9%-can be a struggle.
I still think that getting blood sugars down to as near normal as possible can help avoid, postpone and lessen the long-term effects of diabetes, and we can also work on lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. I really don't appreciate the medical profession easing up recommendations for older people when every good year left in us means so much to our families and communities. We have a lot to give and also deserve the extra time taking good care of ourselves can give us.
I'm so glad you shared what your doctor said with us -
... we over 60's tend to not be as healthy when we cut back too much.
because I was hoppin' mad before I read it.
Now I'm cool...
Why couldn't they have put it like that in the first place?
I thought this was interesting, too:
Scientists Ponder Why Exercise Helps Control High BG in Type 2sMaybe they'll find a pill based on that research...
Pam W
SE of Seattle
