High blood sugar can puts diabetics at risk for several serious problems — kidney disease, blindness, nerve damage, even the loss of a leg or foot. So the lower a diabetic’s blood sugar is, the better off she’d be, right?
Not necessarily. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) had to stop part of a major diabetes and heart disease study because 257 of its subjects, who had been given the most intensive drug and insulin treatment to lower blood glucose, died.
By contrast, only 203 of the study participants, who followed a less-intensive treatment regimen and thus had somewhat higher blood sugar readings, passed away.
These results have apparently startled and perplexed some doctors, since the medical community has long believed that lower blood sugar is better.
“It’s confusing and disturbing that this happened,” Dr. James Dove, president of the American College of Cardiology, told reporter Gina Kolata of the New York Times.
Confusing and disturbing, indeed. And hopefully, just more news that will inspire those of us who aren’t diabetic to do all we can — with good diet and exercise — to avoid developing diabetes at all. And, if you already have diabetes, do your best to keep your blood sugar under control.
Thanks to the Physicians’ Committee for Responsible Medicine for the tip.
Jennifer Moore for SUGAR SHOCK! Blog
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