Intensive glucose therapy and clinical implications of recent data: a consensus statement from the Global Task Force on Glycaemic Control

Abstract

Background: There is compelling evidence showing that achieving good glycaemic control reduces the risk of microvascular complications in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Likewise, there is clear evidence to show that achieving good glycaemic control reduces the risk of macrovascular complications in type 1 diabetes. The UKPDS 10‐year follow up suggests that good glycaemic control also reduces the risk of macrovascular complications in type 2 diabetes. Despite this, recent results from ACCORD, ADVANCE and VADT present conflicting results and data from the ACCORD trial appear to suggest that very low HbA_1c targets (1c targets (<6.0%) may not be beneficial in patients with existing CVD and a longer duration of diabetes. Conclusions: Glycaemic control remains a very important component of treatment for type 2 diabetes and contrasting results from the ACCORD, ADVANCE and VADT should not discourage physicians from controlling blood glucose levels.