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"Rethinking A1C Goals for T2 Diabetes"

Wow. It's a catch 22 they either get side effects from the mediation or side effects from the high sugars. Which is worse? The medication?
 
Well I kinda agree with the idea of just manage symptoms in the elderly, my grandmother 80+ who is in poor health generally has just been diagnosed diabetic, now on top of even more medications the care home are helping her have a better diet before being retested, so she’s now miserable as she’s not getting her little treats she likes. It’s highly unlikely that she will live another 2 years, possible she won’t see 2020 is denying her daily biscuits with the tea trolley rounds, and her night time chocolate bar worth while?
 
Surely this should be her informed choice not anyone else’s, assuming she has capability to make such choices.
 
Same thing here, my mother in law is 89 and started having a sugar problem about 5 years ago. She's not on medication, just been told to watch what she eats. I think at her age it's not too much of an issue as long as she doesn't eat dessert all day.
 

She reminds me of my mother who had a few major health problems in her 80s, including gall bladder, but she loved her hot coffee, chili dogs, chocolate, and other foods that weren't particularly "good" for her. But in the end it wasn't her gall bladder that did her in, she didn't have to have anything done to it, and she did enjoy her coffee and other treats 'til the day she died. Her health was poor enough that she was bedridden; I don't know what shape your grandmother is in. Mama did not have diabetes; she did have a pacemaker.

I have some neighbors who are way up in their 80s and some in their 90s and they seem to be in great health, some just use walkers to get around.
 
HSSS said:
Surely this should be her informed choice not anyone else’s, assuming she has capability to make such choices.
Click to expand...
She doesn’t really have the ability to make more complex decisions. She can say yes or no to biscuits. If you explain biscuits will increase her sugars and could lead to health risks, it just confuses her. The conversation would be something like.
Carer: do you want a cup of tea?
Gran: yes
Carer: do you want some biscuits?
Gran: yes
Carer: your diabetic, biscuits have lots of sugar and could make you ill, do you want to be unwell?
Gran: no
Carer brings in cup of tea no biscuits
Gran: where’s my biscuits?

It then becomes a what’s in her best interests debate....
 
ert said:
Wow. It's a catch 22 they either get side effects from the mediation or side effects from the high sugars. Which is worse? The medication?
Click to expand...
Except of course that there is the third way...
 
Tipetoo said:
Carer: You have already eaten them, but here's your second cup of tea you wanted.
Gran: OK.
Click to expand...
Been there, done that,
Good luck to any one who tries to have a reasoned discussion in those circumstances.

I deliberately never told my mum that her husband, my father had passed away, as I couldn't stand the pain of watching her sob over the Loss,
Then having to explain it again and again, at each visit

It, like this survey suggests had little health benefit to her at her advanced age and condition of her health.( Senile dementia)

Her being as happy as was possible, under the circumstances was my ultimate goal,

I like the 'Measured decision'..we all keep saying we are individuals, no one size fits all.

In my mind this would be an eminently suitable way of making those last few years as enjoyable as possible.

But I still like your idea of the little white lies ..
 
I have an elderly friend who is 94 and lives independently. This lady is type 2 diabetic and was taking metformin tablets. Interestingly at her last review she was told she no longer needed to take them. She described it as "I don't need to take tablets anymore, they said I am all right now". She has lost quite a bit of weight so I thought perhaps her blood sugars have come down, now I am not so sure. If it is age related rather than blood sugar related, they probably need to know her father lived till he was 101 and still had all his faculties.
 
I thought it was quite a thoughtful article. It says lifestyle rather than drugs should be the starting point for most people.
It also says
"There is no question that type 2 diabetes needs to be taken seriously and treated. But common sense should rule the day. Lifestyle changes are very effective, and the side effects of eating more healthfully and staying more active are positive ones. Every person with type 2 diabetes is an individual. No single goal is right for everyone, and each patient should have a say in how to manage their blood sugars and manage risk. That means an informed discussion, and thoughtful consideration to the number."

Many people on this site have changed what they eat and seen positive results. The article supports that (although it may have a different view of diet - but that is guessing ). It writes about treating people as individuals.

Thank you for posting it @SaskiaKC
 
I am 'elderly' but only 68. Happy to be diet controlled for now but if I got dementia and was almost bed-ridden the only reason I'd want to stay on a strict diet would be to save my sight in the early years. Once it was advanced I think I'd rather die from eating chocolate then suffer the way my mother did. I wish I'd realised that earlier.
 
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