by Helen
(USA)
I'm an 83-year-old female diagnosed with prediabetes 5-6 years ago. Fasting morning glucose around 109-118 mostly.
Tried all kinds of food combinations but it will not go down to normal at night nor any other time! Lately, have had 2 or 3 high post meal(2 hr.)reading of 200 (Usually runs 140-170.)
Home A1C tests have been under 6 but worried that I haven't improved though I tried a couple of herbs recommended to lower sugar Sylvestre Gymnema & Alpha Lipoic Acid, cut bread, potatoes, sugar, etc drastically and try to keep carbs under 50 a meal.
Never a serious weight problem in my life, except now I struggle to keep it up to 120-125 because I'm trying to control my carbs.
Still quite active, gym 3 times weekly, daily 20 min or more walking or stationary bike (used to be more when younger), healthy heart, triglycerides normal without treatment, cholesterol readings normal since taking statins since 80's, no family members had diabetes except maybe one grandmother when she was old.
Diagnosed with diabetic damage to my eyes, but not serious enough for surgery. So frustrated.Hate to go on medication because of side effects but feel like I may have to. After reading late health reports, I'm wondering if the statin caused my prediabetes!
—Helen, USA
Helen, do not choose a medicine from home readings alone. Fasting glucose of 109–118 mg/dL falls in the prediabetes range if confirmed by a laboratory, but a home result of 200 two hours after an ordinary meal does not diagnose diabetes. It does justify laboratory HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, and possibly a 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test.
At age 83, with difficulty maintaining weight, metformin is not automatic. It is most strongly recommended for younger, heavier, high-risk adults. Your clinician must balance possible benefit against appetite loss, diarrhea, weight loss, kidney function, vitamin B12 deficiency, frailty, and treatment burden.
Answer by Dr. Albana Greca, MD, MMedSc
Hello Helen,
Your results do not fully agree. The first step is confirming the diagnosis, not starting a drug.
Laboratory diabetes criteria include HbA1c at least 6.5%, fasting plasma glucose at least 126 mg/dL, two-hour plasma glucose at least 200 mg/dL during a standardized oral glucose tolerance test, or random plasma glucose at least 200 mg/dL with classic symptoms.
A reading after your usual meal is not the same as an oral glucose tolerance test. Home A1c kits and meters cannot diagnose diabetes alone. See our blood-test guide.
Possibly, but it is not an obvious choice from the information given. ADA guidance particularly considers preventive metformin for high-risk adults aged 25–59, BMI at least 35, fasting glucose at least 110, HbA1c at least 6.0%, or previous gestational diabetes.
You sometimes meet the fasting example, but you are 83, not overweight, and struggle to maintain weight. If testing confirms only prediabetes, monitoring and adequate nutrition may be safer than medication.
If diabetes is confirmed, metformin or another low-hypoglycemia, weight-neutral option may be considered according to kidney and heart health, frailty, cost, and glucose pattern.
Statins are associated with a small increase in new type 2 diabetes, especially in people already prone to abnormal glucose. This does not prove that your statin caused the condition, and the original answer overstated that link.
In trials, cardiovascular events prevented by statins outnumbered extra diabetes cases. Do not stop it independently; review its indication, dose, benefit, and tolerance.
Neither is established for preventing diabetes. Gymnema evidence is insufficient, and alpha-lipoic acid has not shown reliable glucose-lowering benefit.
Supplements may interact with medicines or affect glucose unpredictably. Tell your clinician and pharmacist what you take. Our herbal diabetes guide explains the evidence and safety concerns.
Possibly. At 83, maintaining muscle and nutrition is essential. Further carbohydrate restriction may worsen weight loss. Daytime glucose does not need to stay in the fasting range.
The carbohydrate guide explains why food quality and portions matter more than extreme restriction.
Ask the ophthalmologist for the exact diagnosis. At your age, macular degeneration, cataract, glaucoma, or retinal vein disease may also affect the eyes.
If diabetic retinopathy was documented, reconsider whether diabetes is already present. Continue eye follow-up and see our eye disease guide.
Remember: post-meal readings of 200 require laboratory clarification. At age 83, preventing undernutrition and hypoglycemia is crucial. Metformin is not automatic, supplements do not replace evaluation, and the statin should be reviewed—not stopped independently.
Safety note: Medication decisions at age 83 require laboratory confirmation, kidney review, nutrition assessment, and individualized goals.
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