An international team, led by George Institute for International Health, Australia, has found that the analysis particularly favors diabetic patients. The team maintained that an intensive blood sugar control protects such patients against heart attacks and strokes.
For the purpose of the study, the researchers focused on about 11,140 patients suffering from Type 2 diabetes. These patients were given the required treatment and their medical condition was followed up for five years.
Thereafter, the researchers studied about 27,049 patients when combined with the patients from three other major studies.
Controlling sugar level could prevent cardiac arrests
The findings of the analysis of all the studies suggested that maintaining a good control over the sugar levels in blood could reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes in diabetic patients by approximately 15 percent.
The results also showed that an intensive blood sugar control could lead to an increased risk of hypoglycaemia (very low blood sugar levels). However, there was no evidence of increased risk in the mortality rate of such patients.
The researchers are hoping that the findings would not only provide reassurance to experts and patients about the value of lowering glucose levels in the blood but would also enable better Type 2 diabetes management with improved guidelines and prevent complications for millions of diabetic patients worldwide.
Type 2 diabetes: causes and cure
Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which the body does not produce enough insulin
--a hormone produced in the pancreas--which enables cells to absorb glucose in order to turn it into energy.
This causes glucose to accumulate in the blood, starving the cells of energy and often leading to various complications which develop over time, like damaged eyes, nerves, kidneys, heart.
Obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol often leads to Type 2 diabetes. Therefore, one should exercise regularly and lose weight in order to control and manage this type of diabetes.
A word of caution for the patients:
They should drink plenty of fluids during the exercise regimen because dehydration can lead to higher sugar levels in blood.
Diabetes mellitus is one of the greatest threats to the health of million of people worldwide. Reportedly, there are approximately 250 million people with diabetes globally. It is estimated that the number will rise to 380 million in 2025.
The analysis appears in the 'Diabetologia' journal.
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