Related article:
Intensive Glycemic Control Fails to Prevent Most Microvascular Complications
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/Diabetes/12210
Keeping a tight rein on blood glucose in type 2 diabetes patients did nothing to prevent retinopathy, nephropathy, or neuropathy in the closely watched VA Diabetes Trial, researchers here said.
With a median of 5.6 years of follow-up, rates of microvascular complications did not differ significantly between diabetic veterans who received standard care and those randomized to a regimen of tight glycemic control, reported William Duckworth, M.D., of the Phoenix VA Health Care Center and colleagues online in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Median levels of glycated hemoglobin reached in the trial were 8.4% with standard therapy and 6.9% in the intensive treatment group.
As Dr. Duckworth had reported at the American Diabetes Association meeting earlier this year, cardiovascular outcomes also did not differ between the groups. (See: ADA: VA Diabetes Trial Appears to Vindicate Rosiglitazone (Avandia) Safety)
“Overall, the benefit of decreasing the glycated hemoglobin level from 8.4% to 6.9% appeared to be minimal,” the researchers said in their NEJM report.
It's a FReebie that you may have to register - not subscribe - to read the whole article. I only read the abstract so far, but it looks like one more feather in the cap of carbohydrate restriction and exercise as opposed to medical therapy/medicine.
FReepmail me if you want on or off the diabetes ping list.
Oh boy! Now I can have donuts!
/sarc
One huge benefit to glycemic control and lipid control is weight loss. Maybe statisticly there is little benefit but there seems to be individually...at least for me.