Managing chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure can help older adults live longer and healthier lives. But if treatments are too aggressive, they can cause serious harm.
In the U.S., many older adults are hurt by overly intense treatment.
This can lead to dangerously low blood sugar or blood pressure, emergency visits, hospital stays, disability, or even death.
These problems are preventable and often happen because doctors are trying too hard to treat the conditions.
Experts recommend gentle and personalized treatment for older adults, especially those in poor health or in nursing homes. But many still receive too much medication or strict care plans that do not fit their needs.
Dr. Joseph G. Ouslander, a geriatric medicine expert at Florida Atlantic University, and Dr. Michael Wasserman, a geriatrician from California, say it’s time to change the system. In a recent paper, they suggest better ways to support doctors and nurses so they can avoid overtreatment and focus on safer, individualized care.
They say doctors should not just be told to avoid overtreatment—they should be rewarded for doing the right thing. Right now, doctors often follow strict rules that might not be safe for every patient.
Here are the main ideas from their paper:
Diabetes care: Groups like the American Diabetes Association suggest more flexible blood sugar targets for older adults who are sick or have other health problems. Still, many are treated too aggressively. Some nursing home rules even warn against strict diets or risky medicines.
Blood pressure care: Experts recommend moderate goals (systolic pressure between 130–150) for people over 80. But clinical trials don’t usually include frail or very sick people, so these targets may not be safe for everyone.
One big trial (called SPRINT) showed that lowering blood pressure aggressively can help. But this study didn’t include the most vulnerable older adults—like those with dementia or in nursing homes.
Ouslander and Wasserman recommend:
1. Test new medications and technologies that may be safer for older adults.
2. Support quality improvement programs in clinics and nursing homes.
3. Use medical records to find and fix problems related to low blood sugar or blood pressure.
4. Write clear care plans that reflect each person’s health, wishes, and life goals.
5. Get researchers, doctors, and policy makers to work together on safer care.
6. Create new ways to measure quality, like tracking when medicines are overused.
7. Do more research that includes frail and medically complex older people.
Dr. Ouslander says we need to move away from “one-size-fits-all” care. Instead, we should use personalized plans that are safe, based on evidence, and made together with the patient. This approach can help avoid hospital visits, improve health, and respect the dignity of older adults.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about How to choosing the right fruits for type 2 diabetes and findings of New higher dose diabetes drug promises better blood sugar control and weight loss.
For more about diabetes, please read studies about The hidden connection between cancer and diabetes uncovered and findings of Scientists find the best way to help people with diabetes lose weight.
The study is published in Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
