Intensive Glycemic Control in the ACCORD and ADVANCE Trials

Diabetes is associated with a reduced lifespan, largely as a consequence of cardiovascular disease.13 Although diabetes significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular events,1 the relative increase in events for each percent increase in glycated hemoglobin is modest.4 Microvascular complications of diabetes remain the leading causes of blindness and renal failure in the developed world and are much more closely associated with hyperglycemia than with macrovascular complications.4 Though there is a link between hyperglycemia and cardiovascular risk, there is less evidence that glucose lowering is associated with reduction in risk. Patients with type 2 diabetes whose glycated hemoglobin levels were . . .