Caduceus
Shared on Thu, 02/07/2008 - 09:58From the AP Wire:
The government abruptly halted aggressive treatment in a major study of diabetes and heart disease after a surprising number of deaths among patients who pushed their blood sugar to super-lows — findings that call into question a growing movement in diabetes care.
Wednesday's move doesn't affect health guidelines for most Type 2 diabetics, but it raises concern about a particularly vulnerable group: Patients at especially high risk of heart attack or stroke.
Instead, the NIH took the rare step of halting part of the study 18 months early — citing 257 deaths among aggressively treated patients compared to 203 among diabetics given more standard care.
From my perspective, most standard care will remain unchanged. This study of aggressively lowering the blood sugars to below non-diabetic levels obviously increases risk for patients. I look forward to seeing more conclusions that have been drawn from the data, especially breaking out of high risk groups.
The government abruptly halted aggressive treatment in a major study of diabetes and heart disease after a surprising number of deaths among patients who pushed their blood sugar to super-lows — findings that call into question a growing movement in diabetes care.
Wednesday's move doesn't affect health guidelines for most Type 2 diabetics, but it raises concern about a particularly vulnerable group: Patients at especially high risk of heart attack or stroke.
Instead, the NIH took the rare step of halting part of the study 18 months early — citing 257 deaths among aggressively treated patients compared to 203 among diabetics given more standard care.
Ironically, the death rate was well below what doctors usually see in Type 2 diabetics, probably due to the extra care and monitoring they received as part of the research.
Moreover, the aggressively treated patients suffered about 10 percent fewer heart attacks overall than their counterparts, said Dr. William Friedewald of Columbia University, who helped monitor the study.
So for now, the NIH's message: Diabetics with heart disease shouldn't strive for near-normal glucose, but to a level long described as optimal for all diabetics — around 7 on a measurement scale known as the A1C.
----From my perspective, most standard care will remain unchanged. This study of aggressively lowering the blood sugars to below non-diabetic levels obviously increases risk for patients. I look forward to seeing more conclusions that have been drawn from the data, especially breaking out of high risk groups.
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Submitted by J-Cat on Thu, 02/07/2008 - 10:27
Submitted by Caduceus on Thu, 02/07/2008 - 10:32
Submitted by Ag3nt_Or4ngE on Thu, 02/07/2008 - 10:45
Submitted by Caduceus on Thu, 02/07/2008 - 11:06
Submitted by CapnHun on Thu, 02/07/2008 - 11:43
Submitted by TANK on Thu, 02/07/2008 - 11:54