What Is The Most Recent Ada Guidelines
There is a new guideline comprising an elevated A1c which can go up to 8.5 or even 9 for adult seniors 65 years of age.Whats the Big Deal with Higher Normal A1c Target?- Incorrect Diagnosis Can Lead to Complex SymptomsFor Diabetes, higher A1c target is a relaxing guideline. Because accomplishing 8 or 8.5-9ish is easier than achieving < 7%. < 7% needs more stringent glycemic control, and higher medication requirement. Using more than adequate medicines when not necessary may cause dangerous low sugar situation. In essence senior patients can be easily misdiagnosed and over treatment harm the body rather than improving. Realizing your normal A1c target range as a senior can help you mitigating the risks.
A1c Number Represents a Reliable and Offers Accurate Diagnosis of Diabetes:
1. They are repeatable2. It is convenient as it doesnt need fasting before the blood sample is withdrawn
American Diabetes Association offers < 7% A1c as the normal target for adults without diabetes.Aging Related A1c Increase With Non-Diabetes
Age in Years. A1c Mmol. Mg/ dL20-39. 6.0%. 42.1 12660 years. 6.5%. 47.5. 160
Is A1c Age Dependent
The reasons A1c changes with aging because RBC numbers change with aging.1. There might be a change in the way how RBCs are made from stem cells.2. Compromise between RBC production and clearance.3. All RBC contribute to the measured level of HbA1c. Although older RBCs are supposed to be exposed more to plasma glucose, younger ones are more in numbers. .4. The changed RBC numbers contribute to changed A1c.The clinicians have not yet accepted the natural enhanced change in A1c with older adults.
Blood Glucose And A1c Targets For Frail Elderly People
The Diabetes Canada clinical practice guidelines were recently updated to recommend different blood glucose targets in the frail elderly. These are seniors who have three or more of the following conditions:
- Unintended weight loss of more than 4.5 kilograms during the past year
- Constant fatigue or exhaustion
- Weakness in their arms and legs
- A slow walking speed
- Low levels of physical activity
In these people, the A1C target is 8.5% , and pre-meal blood sugar levels should be 5.0 to 12.0 mmol/L .
One of the main reasons why blood sugar and A1C targets are higher for frail elderly people is that studies have shown that tighter blood sugar control is associated with mortality in this population. The Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes study a very large trial of more than 10,000 adults with type 2 diabetes found that very tight glycemic control in older patients was associated with an increased risk of death.
As well, frail elderly adults are more inclined to suffer from moderate to severe hypoglycemia. This is because they may not be eating a nutritionally balanced diet they are also more likely to have other ailments for which they take medications that may contribute to episodes of hypoglycemia.
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What Should Normal Blood Sugar Levels Be Like For Seniors
By Debbie Waddell 9 am on January 21, 2020
For the average senior, normal blood sugar levels are considered to be less than 100 mg/dL after not eating for around eight hours. After eating, they should be less than 140 mg/dL. However, keep in mind that a physician is the best person to state when your aging loved ones glucose levels are off. While blood sugar levels tend to fluctuate throughout the day, problems occur when they become too high or low for the body to function properly. Abnormal glucose levels can lead to issues that impact overall health, and knowing how to help your loved one keep his or her blood sugar regulated can help you assist with things such as diabetes prevention.
The Basics Of High Blood Sugar
Diabetes is a problem with your body that causes blood sugar levels to rise higher than normal. This is also called hyperglycemia.
When you eat, your body breaks food down into sugar and sends it into the blood. Insulin then helps move the sugar from the blood into your cells. When sugar enters your cells, it is either used as fuel for energy right away or stored for later use. In a person with diabetes, there is a problem with insulin. But, not everyone with diabetes has the same problem.
There are different types of diabetestype 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. If you have diabetestype 1, type 2 or gestationalyour body either doesn’t make enough insulin, can’t use the insulin well, or both.
Learn more about blood sugar Learn more about insulin
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How The Test Works
The sugar in your blood is called glucose. When glucose builds up in your blood, it binds to the hemoglobin in your red blood cells. The A1c test measures how much glucose is bound.
Red blood cells live for about 3 months, so the test shows the average level of glucose in your blood for the past 3 months.
If your glucose levels have been high over recent weeks, your hemoglobin A1c test will be higher.
Research Design And Methods
The FOS, a community-based population study in Framingham, Massachusetts, was described previously . This predominantly white population has been studied every 48 years since 1971: interim histories are obtained, and clinical examinations are performed.
NHANES is a national population-based study based on household sampling with oversampling for minority groups. NHANES 20012004 data were used for this analysis. Detailed descriptions of the sample design, interviewing procedures, and physical examinations have been published .
We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 2,473 nondiabetic FOS participants who attended their fifth examination between January 1991 and September 1995, during which fasting glucose and A1C were measured and a 75-g OGTT was performed. FOS subjects with diabetes, determined on the basis of previous treatment with antidiabetic medications or fasting plasma glucose 126 mg/dl, were excluded. The nondiabetic cohort was classified as having IFG if FPG was between 100 and 125 mg/dl and IGT if 2-h postload glucose was 140199 mg/dl . Participants with NGT had FPG < 100 mg/dl and 2-h postload glucose < 140 mg/dl. Fifty-nine subjects who had missing 2-h postload blood glucose measurements were excluded from the NGT analyses.
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Your A1c Target Is Your Own
You are unique and you need advice based on your own set of circumstances. If someone who hears your A1C says, Your A1C level should be x, y, or z. Your response can be: I am working with my doctor on reaching my own safe diabetes target, and it has been customized for my condition.
A1C targets often change over time, sometimes decreasing and sometimes increasing. It all depends on the person and circumstances. Dont compare yourself or your child to others. Know your goals and be clear, persistent and honest in your approach to managing diabetes.
Normal Blood Sugar Levels Chart
Every substance present in our body has an optimum level. Above or below that specific range, that particular substance is harmful to our health. And so is sugar. There is a certain range of blood sugar which is considered as standard for almost all age. However, there might be some changes in the level considering different factors like age and other co-morbidities. Lets look at the chart:
| Time | |
|---|---|
| 2 hours after the meal | < 140 mg/dl |
| 5.7-6.4% | 6.5% |
Sometimes, random blood is also taken. In this case, the glucose level of 200 mg/dl is considered a diabetic condition.
Going through the chart you will notice certain terms regarding blood sugar which you need to understand in order to evaluate your own glucose level. So, I will just give a small brief regarding those:
- Fasting blood glucose: Here, blood sugar is tested after abstaining from food and drink for at least 8 hours.
- Postprandial blood sugar:In this case, blood sugar is tested 2 hours after a meal to access if its at the optimum level after having a meal or not.
- Random blood glucose: Blood is tested at any time of the day.
- HbA1c: It refers to a blood test which is done to evaluate the average level of blood glucose over the past 3 months. HbA1c is also known as glycosylated haemoglobin or A1C. Moreover, fasting is not required before carrying out the test.
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Prediabetes Diagnosis As An Older Adult: What Does It Really Mean
- By A. Enrique Caballero, MD, Contributor
As our bodies age, the risk of type 2 diabetes increases. It is estimated that 25% of adults older than 65 have type 2 diabetes, while half of people over 65 have prediabetes. We know that having type 2 diabetes as an older adult requires proper lifestyle, and sometimes medications, to control the disease and reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications, but the implications of having prediabetes at this age are not totally clear.
What Is The Normal Blood Sugar Level For Seniors
We, humans, get our energy from food. Our body converts food into a sugar called glucose with the help of insulin and supplies the necessary energy required to continue our daily activities.
Is it okay to have a random level of blood glucose? No! Definitely not!
Blood sugar has also got an optimum level. What is it then? Thus, this is our topic today. Here in this article, I will give you a brief idea about the normal blood sugar levels in our body. But my main focus will be on the geriatric or older adult citizens as altered blood glucose level or diabetes is the most prevalent amongst them. So, let dig into the topic quickly!
Table of Content
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What Level Of Blood Sugar Is Dangerous
Higher blood sugar than normal is always a matter of concern. When should you become vigilant looking at your glucometer?
If you are a non-diabetic person then it is a basis of distress if your glucometer shows a number higher than 140mg/dl and in case of diabetic the range increases to 180 200 mg/dl. This condition is known as hyperglycemia and calls for the necessity to consult with a doctor.
Is testing blood sugar the only way to know your hyperglycemia? What would you do if you dont have glucometer at home?
Just be conscious of the following 7 symptoms:
Sometimes even with the treatment, elderly diabetic patients develop dementia with time.
Who Should Get An A1c Test And When
Testing for diabetes or prediabetes:Get a baseline A1C test if youre an adult over age 45or if youre under 45, are overweight, and have one or more risk factors for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes:
- If your result is normal but youre over 45, have risk factors, or have ever had gestational diabetes, repeat the A1C test every 3 years.
- If your result shows you have prediabetes, talk to your doctor about taking steps now to improve your health and lower your risk for type 2 diabetes. Repeat the A1C test as often as your doctor recommends, usually every 1 to 2 years.
- If you dont have symptoms but your result shows you have prediabetes or diabetes, get a second test on a different day to confirm the result.
- If your test shows you have diabetes, ask your doctor to refer you to diabetes self-management education and support services so you can have the best start in managing your diabetes.
Managing diabetes:If you have diabetes, get an A1C test at least twice a year, more often if your medicine changes or if you have other health conditions. Talk to your doctor about how often is right for you.
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What Are The Blood Glucose Targets For Elderly People With Type 2 Diabetes
February 9, 2018 by Diabetes Care
Blood glucose targets for elderly people with type 2 diabetes are generally the same as other adults with type 2 diabetes.
In fact, the Diabetes Canada clinical practice guidelines recommend that otherwise healthy elderly people with diabetes whether they have type 1 or type 2 should also be treated to achieve the same blood pressure and cholesterol targets as younger people with diabetes.
Hba1c Targets In Pregnancy
- HbA1c is physiologically lowered by 0.5% due to expansion of red blood cell mass and recruitment of new immature RBCs.
- Diffusion of glucose through the RBC membrane increases with age, so the build-up of newer RBCs lowers HbA1c values in pregnancy.
- A target of < 6% is optimal, and < 6.5% is acceptable in most pregnant females the rationale is that the incidence of congenital fetal anomalies is similar to non-diabetic females at these levels.
- Poorly controlled patients are prone for fetal cardiac,central nervous system and gut anomalies.
- Inspite of its shortcomings, HbA1c is recommended every 2-3 months in pregnant females for monitoring.
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Two Recent Reports About The Condition In The Elderly Population Are Spurring Interest In The Issue
More than 26 million people 65 and older have prediabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How concerned should they be about progressing to diabetes?
Not very, some experts say. Prediabetes a term that refers to above-normal but not extremely high blood sugar levels isnt a disease, and it doesnt imply that older adults who have it will inevitably develop Type 2 diabetes, they say.
For most older patients, the chance of progressing from prediabetes to diabetes is not that high, said Robert Lash, the chief medical officer of the Endocrine Society. Yet labeling people with prediabetes may make them worried and anxious.
Other experts believe it is important to identify prediabetes, especially if doing so inspires older adults to add more physical activity, lose weight and eat healthier diets to help bring their blood sugar under control.
Always a diagnosis of prediabetes should be taken seriously, said Rodica Busui, president-elect of medicine and science at the American Diabetes Association, which recommends adults 45 and older get screened for prediabetes at least once every three years. The CDC and the American Medical Association make a similar point in their ongoing Do I Have Diabetes? campaign.
Still, many older adults arent sure what they should be doing if theyre told they have prediabetes. Nancy Selvin, 79, of Berkeley, Calif., is among them.
The takeaway?
What Is Normal Blood Sugar For A 80 Year Old Male
Normal ranges of blood sugar levels are between 70 and 130 mg/dL before eating meals. The American Diabetes Association recommends seniors have blood glucose levels of less than 180 mg/dL two hours after eating. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of at-home care.
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What Is A Normal Blood Glucose Level For Someone With Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus , often referred to as diabetes, is characterized by high blood glucose levels that result from the bodys inability to produce enough insulin and/or effectively utilize the insulin. Diabetes is a serious, life-long condition and the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism . There are three forms of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that accounts for five- to 10-percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes may account for 90- to 95-percent of all diagnosed cases. The third type of diabetes occurs in pregnancy and is referred to as gestational diabetes. Left untreated, gestational diabetes can cause health issues for pregnant women and their babies. People with diabetes can take preventive steps to control this disease and decrease the risk of further complications.Continue reading > >
What Is A Normal Blood Sugar Level For Someone With Diabetes
Normal blood sugar levels after eating for diabetics The American Diabetes Association recommends that the blood sugar 1 to 2 hours after the beginning of a meal be less than 180 mg/dl for most nonpregnant adults with diabetes. This is typically the peak, or highest, blood sugar level in someone with diabetes.
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Maintain A Healthy Diet And Eating Schedule
Eating healthy foods is the first thing your loved ones can do to stabilize their blood sugar levels. Consult a dietitian to determine which foods are safe for your aging family member.
However, you should generally cut out fats and meat. Replace this unhealthy food with whole grains for fiber and fresh produce. Fewer meats, more vegetables!
Note that the sugar in your blood rises after meals, so your eating habits can also affect your blood sugar levels. Timing your loved ones meals is just as important as what they eat.
Reduce their portion size but ensure that they eat more frequently. This is to keep their blood sugar stable throughout the day.
Quick A1c Calculator: All You Need To Know About A1c In 2017
Have you heard your doctor or friends mention the term A1C and wonder to yourself what in the world does it mean? Or its could be familiar word, but you never really understood what it meant for you? Fret not. After reading this, youll know exactly what A1c is, what your ideal A1c should be, and how you can estimate A1c using an A1c calculator/converter. And I promise Ill make it easy for you to understand. What does A1c stand for? HbA1C is a medical term, and refers to glycated haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying molecule in your red blood cells. So this is actually a measure of how much glucose is attached to the haemoglobin in your red blood cells. It is done as a blood test, usually ordered by your doctor every 3 6 months if you have diabetes. Youll see your result displayed as a percentage in your blood test report . Since your red blood cells typically live for approximately 8-12 weeks, your A1c number serves as a marker of your average blood glucose levels over the past 2 3 months. This is how a typical A1c result will look like in your blood test report. What is a normal A1c level? And how about in diabetes/ prediabetes? A healthy person has an A1c of 5.6% or less. A person with Prediabetes usually has a A1c between 5.7% and 6.4% A person is diagnosed with Diabetes when his or her A1c is more than 6.5%. The higher your average blood glucosContinue reading > >
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