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Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
Personally, I would say, if he's got to the age of 85, is still enjoying life and his HbA1c is only 40, then don't change a thing. He must have been doing something right all these years.
Denying yourself treats and little extras at that age, just to reduce a blood test number by a couple of points is pointless.
The time to work hard to live forever is when you're younger, not when you're 80+
If you are overweight, I agree.
However, some elderly people are underweight.
Thankfully, my Dad has always been a healthy weight and our family genes seem to make it impossible to be any different.
As a slight aside, I find links to long research articles or YouTube videos a complete turn off. I may scan the conclusions of a technically opaque research paper but I am not one for watching videos (especially if they are longer than 10 minutes) - it is not the way I learn.
But I appreciate there are all sorts on the forum and we can chose to read/watch or ignore.
I personally think if @helli is going to do further research, perhaps it should be into whether HbA1c is elevated in older people because of a slower turnover of red blood cells. I’m sure i’ve read something along those lines, but I’m afraid I can’t remember where. The link in @Suedon 's post upthread alludes to it, but doesn’t draw any conclusions.
In other words, is your father pre-pre-diabetic at all?
I personally think if @helli is going to do further research, perhaps it should be into whether HbA1c is elevated in older people because of a slower turnover of red blood cells. I’m sure i’ve read something along those lines, but I’m afraid I can’t remember where. The link in @Suedon 's post upthread alludes to it, but doesn’t draw any conclusions.
In other words, is your father pre-pre-diabetic at all?
I think there may be a misconception here. The paper Suedon linked certainly shows HbA1c rising with age. On the one hand this could result from physiological changes, such as a decline in the capacity of beta cells in the pancreas to produce insulin, and on the other hand factors affecting the efficacy of the HbA1c test.
I think ageing is the obvious explanation. It would explain why some of us are diagnosed in our 70s, 80s or 90s.
[Is] HbA1c is elevated in older people because of a slower turnover of red blood cells? I’m sure i’ve read something along those lines, but I’m afraid I can’t remember where. The link in @Suedon 's post upthread alludes to it, but doesn’t draw any conclusions.
In other words, is your father pre-pre-diabetic at all?
As individuals we all learn best by a specific method.
I learn the same way as @helli - I just don't do video learning and these days if I find it's a video I just look for something which is not a video. Me and video information do not mix well.
With a printed article I can skip over blah blah blah and focus in on the key info, easily scroll back to a bit I may have missed, or re-read a part I did not fully understood. or make a note (copy/paste) for further research. it just works for me.
I also scan over research methods with particular focus on sections detailing research setup/methodolody, discussion, and conclusions 🙂
I just wanted to say please don't view this as throwing suggestions back - as individuals we all learn best by a specific method.
I learn the same way as @helli - I just don't do video learning and these days if I find it's a video I just look for something which is not a video. Me and video information do not mix well.
With a printed article I can skip over blah blah blah and focus in on the key info, easily scroll back to a bit I may have missed, or re-read a part I did not fully understood. or make a note (copy/paste) for further research. it just works for me.
I also scan over research methods with particular focus on sections detailing research setup/methodolody, discussion, and conclusions 🙂
All cross purposes and misunderstanding here in this thread. I suggested Dr Nichola Guess's substack post What is Prediabetes as it is neither a long research article nor a YouTube video, just an incisive review informed by the latest research.
I have deleted my posts and I would be most obliged if you would do the same.
Where do you stand on the potential issues of UTIs potentially associated with higher BGs affecting quality of life?
“changes in behaviour, such as acting agitated or confused (delirium)” https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/urinary-tract-infections-utis/
I hasten to add; our seniors should be given the dignity of their own decisions. I had a non D retired father in law contract a UTI. In his own words, he “thought (he in the 3rd person.) I was going mad.” After it cleared up. However, it was initially assumed due to “age.”
Where do you stand on the potential issues of UTIs potentially associated with higher BGs affecting quality of life?
“changes in behaviour, such as acting agitated or confused (delirium)” https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/urinary-tract-infections-utis/
I hasten to add; our seniors should be given the dignity of their own decisions. I had a non D retired father in law contract a UTI. In his own words, he “thought (he in the 3rd person.) I was going mad.” After it cleared up. However, it was initially assumed due to “age.”
UTIs are a common problem in the elderly both male and female even in those who are not diabetic and do cause alarming symptoms that can come on very quickly which is often the give away that it is a UTI. It is sometimes quite tricky to find the correct antibiotic as what works best will depend not only on what the particular bacteria is but which part of the urinary tract is affected. It is important to have a long enough course of treatment to completely get rid of it. It can be much more likely if people have a catheter.
UTIs are a common problem in the elderly both male and female even in those who are not diabetic and do cause alarming symptoms that can come on very quickly which is often the give away that it is a UTI. It is sometimes quite tricky to find the correct antibiotic as what works best will depend not only on what the particular bacteria is but which part of the urinary tract is affected. It is important to have a long enough course of treatment to completely get rid of it. It can be much more likely if people have a catheter.
From what I’ve personally seen. Catheters can be fitted as a “convenience” regardless of an individual’s awareness of needing to micturate. & regardless of ability of thier own free cognitive decision to hit the pan & do so.
Where do you stand on the potential issues of UTIs potentially associated with higher BGs affecting quality of life?
“changes in behaviour, such as acting agitated or confused (delirium)” https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/urinary-tract-infections-utis/
I hasten to add; our seniors should be given the dignity of their own decisions. I had a non D retired father in law contract a UTI. In his own words, he “thought (he in the 3rd person.) I was going mad.” After it cleared up. However, it was initially assumed due to “age.”
