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Should patients with type 2 diabetes focus on glycemic control to reduce their cardiovascular risk?

Victor M Montori1

  • 1Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, Diabetes, Nutrition, and Internal Medicine, Knowledge and Encounter Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. montori.victor@mayo.edu

Polskie Archiwum Medycyny Wewnetrznej
|October 14, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Intensive glycemic control in type 2 diabetes may be harmful, with one trial stopped early due to increased mortality risk. Further research is needed to clarify benefits and guide evidence-based management strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Clinical Trials
  • Diabetes Management

Background:

  • Recent large randomized trials provide extensive data on intensive glycemic control in type 2 diabetes.
  • Previous evidence suggested benefits of tight glycemic control, but new data raise safety concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and analyze the results of three major trials on intensive glycemic control in type 2 diabetes.
  • To discuss the implications of these findings for clinical practice and patient management.

Main Methods:

  • Review of three large randomized controlled trials.
  • Analysis of efficacy and safety data regarding intensive glycemic control.

Main Results:

  • Intensive glycemic control may pose potential harm, including an increased risk of death in one trial.
  • Potential benefits of intensive glycemic control were observed but remain of unclear clinical significance.

Conclusions:

  • The evidence suggests a potential harm associated with intensive glycemic control in type 2 diabetes.
  • A revised, evidence-based approach to managing type 2 diabetes is recommended, considering the latest trial outcomes.

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