Carmel, CA Diabetes : Type 2 Treatment Getting A Second Look

A one size fits all treatment for chronic illnesses is becoming a thing of the past due to new discoveries revolving around genetic testing and other research projects which have shown a targeted treatment can have a much greater impact.  The latest update comes on the diabetes front.  Doctors are no longer recommending simply getting blood sugar down to a targeted standard level for type 2 diabetes.  They are now saying that the treatment needs to be changed based upon a patients' age, general health and personal preferences.  "We need to be less dogmatic about what matters and be open to different approaches and give patients a voice," Victor Motori, a diabetes specialist at the Mao Clinic told the Wall Street Journal.  Other doctors are questioning the gradual stepping up of the intensity of drug therapy.  It's good that new ideas are being toyed with.  More than 24 million Americans have Type 2 diabetes, something which is normally tied to being overweight and sedentary.  Unfortunately, Americans aren't getting any thinner and it is estimated that by 2025 this number could double.  At Family inHome Caregiving, we stress a healthy diet, exercise and social stimulation.  Another recent study found that couch potatoes could extend their lives by two years just by getting off the couch and watching less TV.  Sitting around isn't a lot of fun and it's now being found that it can shorten your lifespan.  But many seniors live alone and feel isolated, particularly those which can no longer drive.  In Monterey, we don't have the best transit system.  If you have a loved one who lives alone, pop in as much as you can and get them out and about.  This improves both their mental health and their physical health.