SAN FRANCISCO, June 7: Maintaining tight control of blood glucose (sugar) in type 2 diabetics reduces the risk of kidney disease by 21 per cent, according to results of a study reported at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association.

At the start of the study, average haemoglobin A1c — a standard measure of blood sugar — was 7.5 per cent. Roughly 11,000 patients were randomised to intensive glucose control to reach a target A1c level of 6.5 per cent or lower, or to standard glucose control recommendations.

At an average follow-up of 5 years, average A1c fell to 6.5 per cent in the intensive group compared with 7.3 per cent in the standard group.

“The average difference in haemoglobin A1c during follow-up was 0.7 per cent,” Dr Anushka Patel of The George Institute for International Health in Sydney, Australia said. The incidence of severe episodes of low blood sugar was 2.7 per cent in the intensive glucose management group and 1.5 per cent in the group receiving standard care. “However, the overall incidence was really quite low and there were no real sequelae, no evidence of chronic adverse events with hypoglycemia.”

There was a 10 per cent decrease in overall heart-related “events,” Patel reported, and the risk of kidney disease was decreased 21 per cent with tight blood sugar control.

“We did not find any evidence of an increase in cardiovascular deaths or deaths from all causes,” with intensive glucose management, Patel said. This finding is in direct contrast with the findings of another recent study, which was halted early when it appeared that intensive glucose management was associated with an increased risk of death.—Reuters