New study sheds light on diabetes management

A rigorous, intensive strategy of glucose and blood pressure reduction can reduce the risk of macrovascular and microvascular complications among diabetic patients, and thus the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, according to the findings of a new study.

Experts said the findings, which marks a milestone in the comprehensive treatment of patients with diabetes, will establish new ideas for lowering glucose and blood pressure from an evidence-based perspective.

Titled "Advance", the study was initiated by the Georgia Centre for International Health Research at the University of Sydney and supported by French pharmaceutical company Servier in 2001 to explore the relationship between managing diabetes scientifically and comprehensively and preventing hypertension.

The study enrolled more than 11,000 patients, more than 3,000 of whom were Chinese, from 215 centers spanning 20 countries.

According to the study results, intensive glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes can reduce the risk of macrovascular and microvascular events combined endpoint by 10 percent. Strict blood pressure control was associated with a 9 percent reduction in the risk of serious macrovascular or microvascular events, an 18 percent reduction in the risk of cardiovascular death, and a 14 percent drop in all causes of death.

Zhang Yuqing, a professor of the cardiovascular department at Beijing Fuwai Hospital under the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, said that the study marked the first time that China participated in an international research project in this disease area.

"It provided profound and effective reference significance for strengthening glycemic control, prevention and treatment of hypertension and diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes patients in China," said Zhang at a forum in Shanghai, where experts discussed how the study findings will contribute to comprehensive diabetes management.

Experts believed that the findings will also help reshape doctors' clinical decision-making and result in effective treatment strategies for patients.

Feng Bo, a chief physician at the department of endocrinology from Shanghai East Hospital, said, "It is also notable that the study shows Chinese diabetic patients begin to suffer from kidney diseases, a complication of diabetes, earlier than their Western counterparts."

China has an estimated 116 million adults suffering from diabetes and 90 percent of them have type 2 diabetes. Experts said cardiovascular complications account for 60 to 70 percent of the deaths among patients with type 2 diabetes.