Studies indicate controlling blood sugar does not decrease cardiovascular risk

SAN FRANCISCO New data has been released from two studies involving more than 21,000 people with Type 2 diabetes showing that there was no reduction in their risk of heart attack and strokes and no reductions in their death rate if they rigorously controlled their blood sugar levels, according to The New York Times. The two studies took place in the U.S. and Australia.

Both studies failed to confirm a dearly held belief that people with Type 2 diabetes could be protected from cardiovascular disease if they strictly controlled their blood sugar. This was different than a study that was ended prematurely in February and showed that patients who were rigorously controlling their blood sugar actually had a higher death rate than those who blood sugar control was less stringent.

Diabetes researchers say that the message is that patients should obtain at least moderate control of blood sugar to protect against eye, kidney and nerve disease. But for heart disease, they say, the only proven method of preventing complications is to give statins to control cholesterol, drugs to control blood pressure and aspirin to control blood clotting, and encourage people to lose weight and exercise.