Controls to blood sugar 'cuts stroke risk'

Healthcare News
23/09/2009
Scientists have found evidence that blood sugar control can drop the risk of having a stroke.

A new international effort to look into blood sugar control has discovered that people with type 2 diabetes can be protected against cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes.

The study, led by experts at the George Institute for International Health, found that intensive treatment of blood sugar control can reduce the risk of heart attack by up to 15 per cent in patients, with the organisation reporting the results in the Diabetologia journal.

Scientists looked into the details of 11,140 patients with type 2 diabetes who were treated and tracked for five years.

Three other major studies were carried out at the same time and added to the overall sample, meaning researchers were able to assess a total of 27,049 participants.

Scientists hope that results will provide reassurance to clinicians and patients about lowering glucose while also informing rule-makers to prevent complications and improve management for millions of people affected across the world.

This week, Dutch scientists revealed after 40,000 people were interviewed that by drinking at least three cups of coffee or tea a day, a person can reduce their chance of getting type 2 diabetes by 42 per cent.

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