One in seven Indians over 60 has been diagnosed with diabetes. What the three-month number means, what a good target looks like at her age, and the lows to watch for
The Pushpa team · 4 sourcesIn India's national ageing survey (LASI), 14.2% of people over 60 said a doctor had told them they have diabetes. In cities it was 26.1%, more than one in four. If your parent is one of them, two kinds of number will come up again and again: the daily sugar reading, and the HbA1c
A finger-prick reading tells you her sugar at that moment, and it moves with every meal, walk and bad night. HbA1c is different. It shows her average blood sugar over the past two to three months, so one sweet at a wedding won't move it much, but a season of skipped tablets will
Many people with diabetes lower their risk of complications by keeping HbA1c below 7%. But the US National Institute of Diabetes (NIDDK) notes that a goal of 7 to 8%, or sometimes higher, can be right for someone who has had serious lows, doesn't feel lows coming, or has kidney or heart disease. MedlinePlus puts it simply: the ranges are just a guide. Ask her doctor what her number should be, and write it down
Two things can make the HbA1c misleading: anaemia from very low iron can push it falsely high, and kidney failure can throw it off. If her haemoglobin is low on the same report, mention it
Low blood sugar is a reading below 70 mg/dL, and below 54 is severe. Older people on insulin or some tablets are most at risk, especially if they eat less than usual. Know the signs, and make sure whoever lives near her knows them too
After many years of diabetes, or on some heart medicines like beta blockers, the early warning signs can fade. That's one more reason for regular readings rather than waiting to feel unwell
How Pushpa helpsShe can tell Pushpa her reading on the evening call or on WhatsApp. Every reading and every HbA1c lands on one timeline the family and her doctor can read, and a dangerous low or high alerts everyone with access
This is general information, not medical advice. Her doctor decides her targets and her medicines
General information, not medical advice. In an emergency in India, call 112
Report sent to the family
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