Seniors whose diabetes is “complex/intermediate to very complex/poor” are still prescribed insulin and other medications to maintain tight blood sugar control, which suggests that for a substantial proportion of them the treatment may be doing more harm than good, said the Yale School of Medicine researchers.
 

"These vulnerable adults are unlikely to experience the benefits of intensive glycemic control and instead are likely to experience harms from treatment, such as hypoglycemia and other adverse effects," the study concludes. “Recognition of both the harms and benefits of glycemic control is critical for patients and physicians and other health care professionals to make informed decisions about glucose-lowering treatment.”
 

Diabetes is very common among adults 65 years or older. Recommendations range from achieving a hemoglobin A1c level of less than 7 percent to less than 6.5 percent. But older patients derive less benefit from such intensive blood sugar control and may be more susceptible to hypoglycemia, a serious health threat that sends many patients to the hospital.
 

The findings are based on an analysis of 1,288 adults (65 years and over) with diabetes from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2001 through 2010.