People with type 2 diabetes are often urged to get their blood sugar as close to normal as possible. But several studies have not shown that such tight control has advantages. Now, an analysis of 14 clinical trials including more than 28,000 participants confirms that intensive blood sugar control does not save lives.
Complications involving the kidney or the retina were less common under intensive blood sugar treatment, but the difference was not significant. Patients in the intensive blood glucose treatment groups were, however, at significantly higher risk of having their blood sugar drop to dangerously low levels.
The fact that there was no obvious benefit to outweigh this potential harm might spur doctors and patients to think twice about this approach to diabetes treatment. BMJ, online Nov. 24, 2011
