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Aggressive diabetes treatments may not yield better results

Category: Diabetes

Some individuals with type 2 diabetes opt for aggressive treatment approaches that promise to restore their HbA1c test scores to nearly normal levels. However, a new study is questioning the benefit of this type of therapy.

While most diabetes treatments simply seek to lower blood sugar to levels that are no longer dangerous, intensive approaches try to reduce glucose to levels seen in metabolically healthy people.

However, after analyzing the results of seven previously published studies, a German team of researchers found that there is little benefit to more aggressive therapies. Measures of heart health, kidney damage and vision were the same in patients given more conservative treatments.

Furthermore, the study uncovered an increased risk of hypoglycemic events in patients prescribed intensive therapies. This can put diabetics in dangerous situations.

The researchers said that their findings could provide important guidelines for doctors treating type 2 diabetes patients. The study could help direct their prescribing habits and make it easier to settle on an appropriate approach for each individual. This could lead to much better treatment outcomes.