Good sugar levels may prevent heart disease

Maintaining low blood sugar levels in people with diabetes can reduce the risk of heart disease, a new study confirms.

British Heart Foundation (BHF) researchers analysed the results of five trials involving more than 33,000 people.

They found that careful blood sugar control protects against heart attack, also known as myocardial infarction (MI), the major cause of death in people with diabetes.

Previous studies have found that carefully controlling blood sugar in people with diabetes can help prevent disease in small blood vessels that leads to kidney failure and blindness.

In the BHF research, intensive glycaemic (blood sugar) control resulted in a 17% reduction in non-fatal MI and a 15% reduction in events of coronary heart disease.

However, the researchers found that intensive glycaemic control had no significant effect on the risk of stroke.

“These findings emphasise the importance of detecting and treating diabetes as early as possible, thus preventing the chances of developing heart and circulatory disease,” the researchers said.

The study was published in The Lancet.

For more information on myocardial infarction and heart disease, visit www.heart.ie

[Posted: Mon 25/05/2009]