The Blood Sugar and Heart Connection (Scary!)

A warning for those over 70 years old

If you already have type 2 diabetes, you know you face greater health risks…  

Like a higher risk of high blood pressure, nerve damage, atherosclerosis, blindness, amputation, cardiovascular events, and yes, an early death. 

HbA1c levels are used to determine whether or not you have type 2 diabetes… and also how well your diabetes is managed. 

But these levels could also determine your risk of having a cardiovascular event like a heart attack or stroke. 

Here’s the percentage you should shoot for to lower those risks. 

First, here’s a quick 101 on HbA1c levels. 

This test tells you your average blood sugar over the past two to three months.  

Normal = 4-5.6 percent 

Pre-diabetes = 5.7-6.4 percent 

Diabetes = 6.5 percent and above 

When it comes to blood sugar levels, higher is ALWAYS worse.  

The problem is that target A1C levels tend to be higher in older patients than in younger patients. But if you’re over 70 and you have type 2 diabetes, you should still aim to keep your A1C levels as low as possible—and specifically UNDER seven percent. 

A recent study analyzed the risks associated with higher A1C levels in type 2 diabetics over 70 years old. 

After five years of follow-up, they found that A1C levels of seven percent or higher increased the risk of having a major cardiovascular event, compared to those with levels less than seven percent. 

As the A1C level increased, so did the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. 

The results also showed that treatment with oral glucose-lowering agents reduced the risk of cardiovascular events by 26 percent. 

The lesson here is that even if you have type 2 diabetes—especially if you have type 2 diabetes—you need to be taking active steps to keep your blood sugar levels down. 

Your health and longevity depend on it.