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ADVANCE Diabetes Study: Good News!
No increased
deaths with better blood sugars
as seen in ACCORD
20080223. The ADVANCE diabetes study does not show the increased
risk
of death that the ACCORD study did. If you've been following
the news,
then you've likely heard of the changes to the ACCORD trial since
learning that more deaths have occured in the group of people aiming
for A1c < 6%. Preliminary reports from another
extremely large diabetes study
do not confirm this in their results.
Preliminary findings of the ADVANCE Diabetes
Study DO NOT
show increased risk of death with intensive treatment to lower blood
glucose.
Some background on the ADVANCE Trial:
- The ADVANCE trial results about blood sugar are
not yet published
as of this date (20080223). However, the Data Monitoring and
Safety Committee wished to release their positive statement after the
recent unfortuante news from the ACCORD trial.
- This research is supported by the National
Health and
Medical Research Council of Australia.
- 11,140 high risk people with type 2 diabetes
were in the ADVANCE trial. It started in 2001. Average follow-up was 5
years.
- Purpose of study: to determine if intensive
treatment to lower blood pressure and blood glucose levels (A1c
< 6.5%) improve
health outcomes.
- Sept, 2007 the ADVANCE trial published that
lowering
blood pressure in type 2 diabetes reduced the rate of death
- Jan,
2008 their preliminary studies regarding aggressive treatment to
lower blood sugar show no increased rate of death (despite ACCORD trial
showing increased risk of death).
- The trial based on twice as much data as
the ACCORD and similar blood sugar levels.
- More information on the ADVANCE trial can be
found at www.advance-trial.com.
This is good news but...
The ADVANCE and ACCORD trials
are not identical. There are some variables, such as some of the
medications, that are the same and likely some that are not.
Each
study will have different protocols. The final results and analysis are
not complete for either study. It is reassuring, however, to hear this
preliminary news from the ADVANCE Diabetes Study that better blood
sugars are not responsible for
increased deaths. Now, we all await the details of the ACCORD
trial to learn what is responsible.
Leaving
ADVANCE DIABETES STUDY to go Home: How to Lower Blood Sugars
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