Systematic Review: Glucose Control and Cardiovascular Disease in Type 2 Diabetes
October 28, 2009: Type 2 diabetes has been associated with a number of complications such as heart disorders, high blood pressure, strokes and many others. These complications can often lead to life threatening situations in diabetic individuals. A strict glucose control through diet, lifestyle changes and administration of medications such as hypoglycemic agents and insulin in commonly advised in diabetic individuals to prevent the occurrence of complications. However, several studies have reported conflicting evidences about the efficacy of glucose control in preventing the occurrence of heart disorders or its related complications.
Researchers at the Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine evaluated the published reports about the glucose control and its efficacy in preventing complications related to the heart disorders. The results of about 28 000 participants of 5 large scale studies were evaluated during this process. It was noted that glucose control was associated with a 10% reduction in the risk for cardiovascular diseases and 11% reduction in the risk for congestive heart disorders. This was evident in individuals who underwent over 5 years of treatment. However, a few of the studies reported that there was no change in the number of cardiovascular events and the deaths associated with it or due to any other cause. Further, they also reported that increased incidence of low blood glucose levels was noted in individuals with intensive glucose control. The researchers concluded that although intensive glucose control reduced some of the cardiovascular disorders it did not prevent the occurrence of deaths due to cardiovascular disorders or other causes and also increased the risk of hypoglycemia.