[acb-diabetics] Higher A1C for older type 2

[Chanelle Allen]

It would be great if the ADA took a more patient centered approach for others as well--both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics. It is not only senior citizens who take several medications or have energy problems. Fortunately, good doctors and diabetes educators will set reasonable goals with patients based on needs and circumstances.

Chanelle


From: Patricia LaFrance-Wolf 
Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2012 9:53 PM
To: 'Discussion list for diabetics and/or ACB issues' 
Subject: [acb-diabetics] Higher A1C for older type 2


Give Older Type 2s More Latitude
Diabetes Health Staff

May 3, 2012 



It may be better for older people with type 2 diabetes to have less stringent A1C goals than younger type 2s, 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, 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 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 sugar goals to the patient in terms of age and medical history, rather than demanding a one-size-fits-all percentage.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Categories:A1C, A1C Levels, A1c Test, Blood Glucose Levels, Blood Sugar, Diabetes, Hypoglycemia, Metformin, Monitoring


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------






--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


_______________________________________________
acb-diabetics mailing list
acb-diabetics at acb.org
http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/acb-diabetics
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://www.acb.org/pipermail/acb-diabetics/attachments/20120509/dd1fd7cd/attachment-0001.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: application/octet-stream
Size: 5709 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://www.acb.org/pipermail/acb-diabetics/attachments/20120509/dd1fd7cd/attachment-0003.obj>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.gif
Type: application/octet-stream
Size: 577 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://www.acb.org/pipermail/acb-diabetics/attachments/20120509/dd1fd7cd/attachment-0004.obj>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image003.gif
Type: application/octet-stream
Size: 4355 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://www.acb.org/pipermail/acb-diabetics/attachments/20120509/dd1fd7cd/attachment-0005.obj>