title: The effects of improved glycemic control on complications in type 2 diabetes.
abstract: Type 2 diabetes is 8 to 10 times more common than type 1 diabetes, but no single large trial has established that improved glycemic control can prevent complications in type 2 diabetes. We have reviewed the results of the existing epidemiologic and clinical trial studies and have arrived at the following conclusions: (1) Strong evidence exists that improved glycemic control is effective at lessening the risks of retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy in type 2 diabetes. (2) The evidence about the effect on coronary heart disease is limited and equivocal. (3) The hypoglycemic risk from improved glycemic control is significantly less in type 2 diabetes than in type 1, and weight gain seems to be modest. In conclusion, although glycemic goals should be individualized based on several clinical factors, most patients with type 2 diabetes would probably benefit from glucose lowering to a hemoglobin A1c level between 7% and 8%.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gaster
authors.forename: I B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Hirsch
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents