Ad. Mooradian et J. Chehade, Implications of the UK Prospective Diabetes Study - Questions answered andissues remaining, DRUG AGING, 16(3), 2000, pp. 159-164
The UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) provides the first conclusive pro
of for the importance of intensifying diabetes control in individuals with
type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, reduction in cardiovascular disease risk
with intensive therapy was modest and did not reach statistical significan
ce. Metformin therapy in obese individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus wa
s associated with reduced cardiovascular death. These observations should b
e re-evaluated to determine whether various therapeutic agents available fo
r treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus have different effects on cardiovas
cular complications of diabetes. The addition of a-glucosidase inhibitor, a
carbose, improved glycaemic control irrespective of concomitant therapy for
diabetes, although compliance with this agent was poor. The tight blood pr
essure control study embedded in UKPDS reaffirms the importance of lowering
the blood pressure below 150/85 to reduce microvascular and macrovascular
complications of diabetes.