How young do you have to be

[Vicsetter]

I am prompted by Grfflybear's posting about his treatment by the NHS to ask the question of how young do you have to be to get treatment.
My mother phoned me last night and during the conversation said 'don't you get fed up for the frequent trips to the toilet in the middle of the night, sometimes every hour'. Now she was diagnosed about a year ago and has not been put on any medication or given any dietary advice (not that that would do any good) and I presume it's all because she is 88. I of course told her to go back to her GP, cause either the diabetes has got worse or she's got a Urinary infection. Is 80+yrs the age at which it won't make much difference, so don't treat it?

 

[trophywench]

My late mother in law was in her 70's before she got T2 and she had brilliant treatment which continued well into her 80's and despite the fact that she also had terminal bowel cancer for about the last 10 years. Tenacious, stubborn and loved life? Got it in one.

They were still willing to throw MORE thousands and thousands of ??? at her for more chemo up until she'd lost the will to fight that fight.

Dunno is the short answer Vic, it may be different docs in different postcodes or summat else that explains it - but these days it really really isn't supposed to matter whether you are 9 or 90.

 

[Northerner]

I think some doctors work on the principle that diabetic complications take around 10 years (statistically) to develop, and maybe overlook the fact that a person's quality of life may actually suffer in the shorter term. I can understand not being quite so strict on things like testing and getting HbA1c right down, but a good grounding should be offered to everyone, regardless of age.

 

[Caroline]

My understanding is everyone is entitled to treatment however old or young they are. It is certainly worth pestering the doctor, even if only because it is cheaper to trat the diabetes now than the complications later on. Apart from the fact going to the loo every hour through the night will affect day to day quality of life...

 

[cazscot]

My FIL is in the same position, he was diagnosed approx 4 years ago and has recently turned 80. He has had no advice and is taking no medication of his D. When I asked him he didn't know what HbA1c was and he doesn't know the figure for it. But then again I am not sure how proactive he is in asking questions.

 

[lizabetic]

Actually my nan is the same, shes 85 and since she was around 60 was told that shes 'borderline' diabetic.

I've tested her once before and she was around 9 after a roast (I was 19!!) so I guess not too dire but I still feel she should get more treatment? Plus now she can't walk much (arthiritas) so isn't getting out and about and therefore gaining weight which surely creates that nasty spiral

She is ever so careful though with diet but still...

 

[Vicsetter]

It seems she has been hiding the truth, says her HBA1C is 7 and she gets it checked every year and has her feet tickled. Just not had anything in the way of dietary advice. Not really surprised she is not on meds, 7 is not bad.