[acb-diabetics] Higher A1C for older type 2

[Patricia LaFrance-Wolf]

Give Older Type 2s More Latitude


Diabetes Health Staff

May 3, 2012 



It may be better for older people with type 2
<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/community/type-2-issues/> diabetes
<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/>  to have less stringent A1C
<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/a1c-test/>  goals than
younger type 2s
<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/community/type-2-issues/> , according
to new guidelines from the American Diabetes Association and the European
Association for the Study of Diabetes.

The recommendations, published on April 19, mark a change from previously
accepted thought that everyone with type 2 diabetes should pursue an A1C
below 7%. (The ADA is now recommending an even lower A1C than before: 6% to
6.5%. An A1C below 5.6% is generally accepted as indicating a diabetes-free
state.)

The new thinking is that an A1C of below 7% is a suitable goal for young,
healthy, motivated people who have the energy to make the effort to attain
it. The new recommendations call for type 2s aged 65 years and older to
focus on achieving less stringent A1C targets, ranging from 7.5% to 8%. The
reasoning behind the change is concern about older people's greater
vulnerability to hypoglycemia
<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/low-blood-sugar
/> , as well the effect that the numerous drugs they may be taking could
have on their effort to achieve a low A1C.

The ADA and EASD guidelines also call for metformin
<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/medications/metformin/>  as the
first-line treatment for newly diagnosed cases of type 2. The only exception
is people whose A1C after diagnosis is close enough to normal to try
lifestyle changes alone to manage the disease. The guidelines call for the
addition of a second drug if three months of metformin alone does not bring
down their A1C sufficiently. 

According to both associations, the new guidelines take a more
patient-centered approach, matching blood
<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/blood-sugar/>  sugar goals
to the patient in terms of age and medical history, rather than demanding a
one-size-fits-all percentage.

  _____  

Categories:A1C
<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/a1c/> , A1C
<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/a1c-levels/>  Levels, A1c
<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/a1c-test/>  Test, Blood
<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/blood-glucose-l
evels/>  Glucose Levels, Blood Sugar
<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/blood-sugar/> , Diabetes
<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/community/diabetes/> , Hypoglycemia
<http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/complications-and-care/hypoglycemia/>
, Metformin <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/medications/metformin/> ,
Monitoring <http://www.diabeteshealth.com/browse/monitoring/> 

  _____  




 
<https://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2009/02/10/6087/you-can-help-support-di
abetes-health/> Donate to Diabetes Health

  _____  

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