Blood glucose control may reduce risk of complications after diabetes treatment starts

NEW YORK Controlling blood glucose levels is one of the primary concerns of diabetes patients, but a Swedish study indicates it’s more important than people thought.

The study, presented at the University of Gothenburg’s Sahlgrenska Academy is based on analysis of patient records from Swedish diabetes clinics, indicates that small improvements in blood-glucose control can reduce the risk of complications after treatment has started.

The researchers examined more than 5,000 patient records from western Sweden, including more than 4,000 patients who used Sanofi-Aventis’ Lantus (insulin glargine [rDNA origin]) and more than 1,000 who used Eli Lilly & Co.’s Humalog (insulin lispro [rDNA origin]).