Providing cardiovascular benefits with safe diabetes therapy

摘要

It is amazing to find how little we know regarding the basics of diabetes after so many years of treatment and research. Recently, the targets for the treatment of diabetes and hyperglycemia were re-evaluated because of the results of several large studies [l]. These studies show that intensive treatment of hyperglycemia may not prevent macro-vascular complications related to dysglycemia, and may even increase mortality [2-4]. Should the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) be one of the aims of diabetes treatment?Diabetes is closely related to CVD. This relation is well established in many studies in different populations. Diabetic patients have a higher prevalence of CVD. In addition, CVD is premature, more extensive and with worse prognosis in diabetic patients. Prediabetic conditions, especially impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), are also related to an increased risk of CVD [5].