@A DiabetesTeam Member only about 1 in 5 Type 2's ever "need" to go on insulin

Generally, insulin users will be either 1) those that choose it over many of the other drugs - insulin which is about 99.8% identical to what we produce ourselves has very few side effects - some of the "drugs", not so much or,

2) Those that have been Type 2 for "decades" AND their diabetes progresses "far enough" to need it AND all the other treatments and lifestyle changes have not been enough

When I was diagnosed I was the 22nd Family Member (in 4 generations) that got the Membership Card

Out of those (and a couple have joined the team since) Only "4" Type 2's were Insulin Users (ever) and of course my (outlier) Type 1 Aunt needed the stuff from childhood

My Great-Grandfather lived to be 101, diagnosed at age 50 (in 1920 before insulin was discovered) - died of misadventure (got drunk and asphyxiated himself) without ever taking "any diabetic med at all" - ya, he's my "Hero"

Mentioned Users

A Diabete...

I am 76 my a1c is 6.5 purely my choice! I use insulin and don't have regular meals times.
As Graham says,not entirely necessary to have A1c lower than you currently do.
If in doubt speak to your health professional.

Thanks. So perhaps if I kept eating at least 1 pork chop daily and trying to do better with portion control I can avoid insulin. And I will try adding more exercise daily too. There is an outdoor pool in our manufactured home community only 4 ft deep, My sis ,& I plan to walk in the pool daily this summer. It is easier on my knee & her back & foot. I am 74 & she turns 77 in October. It is nice to live down the street from her.🙂

I use a long acting insulin and eat when I'm hungry. I only take it once a day. I have to do some things differently then the average diabetic because of the digestive issues, it can take up to 5 days for food to leave my system. I don't eat at regular times. Or even when i get up. I got up at 6am today and am about to go make breakfast it is almost 9:30.

To original question is a low/mid 7's A1C "ok" for someone in their mid-70's

And the answer to that (generally) is YES

We manage our numbers to try and avoid/delay the onset of Complications

The older we get the less chance (statistically, assuming we are going to live to life expectancy and are otherwise in half decent shape - no advanced heart or kidney disease) that we will live long enough to develop a complication before (we) run out of time

Ok, a little morbid, but the bottom line is, you don't have to go all out trying to prevent something that won't even start setting in for 20 years

After age 70, provided you have done well up until then, an A1C of 7.5 or less for most and upwards of 8.5 for some are "just fine"