Quote:
Originally Posted by Alice  .... There was a recent major Type 2 study that was stopped due to the increase in death by tighter control... |
That is the ACCORD trial. It showed that intensively treating the symptoms of T2 diabetes worsens CVD outcomes. More people died from heart attacks. It really shouldn't be surprising. T2s were being intensively treated with insulin to drive the HBA1c lower than 6%. And adverse macrovascular consequences of the high insulin levels associated with intense insulin resistance are well know. The ACCORD study shows that just treating the symptom with drugs and/or insulin doesn't lead to the best outcome. Treating the cause, on the other hand, by losing weighty, getting more exercise, losing weight and cutting carbs has far more profound and lasting benefits.
Getting back to the original question, complications are probably well advanced in a 78 year old. And improving glycemic control through exercise, weight loss and better eating would no doubt slow the progression. It is really up to the individual to decide if the sacrifices involved are worth it. Elderly people tend to think more in the present, for obvious reasons, and we need to respect that. My 91 year old mother has skin cancer on her nose and she doesn't want to have it cut out. It doesn't worry her now, and she doesn't think too far into the future.
