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ACCORD Diabetes Study Stopped

More deaths in the better blood sugar group?

(20080217) The ACCORD diabetes study released some unexpected news recently. There have been more deaths in the experimental group, that group of folks aiming for A1c levels below 6% with aggressive medication treatments, than the control treatment group. But please, don't read this far and stop. Learn more...

It may not be as clear cut as it appears. It could be devistating for people to start running higher sugars based solely on this. This type of news about a study should not be generalized until more...MUCH MORE... is known. Also, there may be some positive news that comes out of the ACCORD trial. Read on. First, some background information:

What was the research about?

The ACCORD trial (Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes) was not all about blood sugars. The study wanted to learn if better than normal methods to lower cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose levels would reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes. The "experimental group" was given a more aggressive treatment of all these variables. The "control group" was given a more standard treatment.

Who was in the study?

Over 10,000 people with type 2 diabetes
Subjects were at higher risk for heart disease as had a history of heart disease, obesity, smoking, high cholesterol or high blood pressure.
There were located in 77 different centres across the U.S. and Canada

What has the ACORD diabetes study found?

The negative: There have been more deaths in the experimental group than the control group.

The positive: Both the experimental and the control groups appear to have significantly less deaths per 1000 people than the general population. The control group is supposed to represent the general population however it is well know that people in research studies receive better medical care and generally take better care of themselves and may forget their medication less.

Why stop the study? Or was the study stopped?

Well, the first articles I read said the study was stopped. A bit of digging led to an article that said it was not stopped. I contacted a professional involved in the ACCORD trial to learn the following as of Feb 14, 2008:

The study is still going on
The patients in the experimental group have all been switched to the same proticol of medications as the control group.
Preliminary analysis have not shown a relationship between Avandia and the deaths.
Preliminary analysis have not shown a relationship between hypoglycemia and the deaths.
There were numerous variables in this research. As this study is put under the microscope, we'll learn more.

In the mean time, remember there is excellent research to say that better blood sugars reduce small blood vessel complications to eyes, kidneys and nerves in type 2 diabetes (UKPDS). The same research is available for type 1 diabetes (DCCT), and includes the reduction of heart disease (EDIC study). Let's wait to see what further analysis has to show.

On a personal note, my heart goes out to those who lost loved ones in this study. Although we do not know if the research is responsible for the losses, we thank those generous people for their particiaption in research to help better the lives of others.

Leaving ACCORD diabetes study to go Home: How to Lower Blood Sugars.