Diabetes UK describe study as 'potentially important'
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Treatment to lower blood sugar in patients with diabetes could prove as harmful as allowing glucose levels to remain high
Cardiff researchers looked at nearly 50,000 patients with type 2 diabetes and found the lowest glucose levels linked to a heightened risk of death.
Significant differences in death rates between patients on insulin and those taking tablets are also flagged up. But there could be various explanations for this, experts noted.
Dr Iain Frame, head of research at Diabetes UK described this study as “potentially important” but stressed it had limitations. He said: “It is not clear what the causes of death were from the results reported.”
Patients taking insulin-based treatments have been urged not to stop taking their medication as a result of the Cardiff University study.
Dr Frame added: “We would advise people with type 2 diabetes who use insulin to keep taking their medication. However, if they are worried about blood glucose targets, then they should discuss this with their healthcare team.”
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