London, May 23 (Inditop) Diabetics who maintain low blood sugar levels are less likely to suffer heart attacks and coronary disease, a new study has found.
By undertaking a meta-analysis, pooling information from five large trials, Cambridge University researchers found evidence linking intensive blood sugar level (or glucose) control with fewer heart attacks.
The research, funded by the British Heart Foundation, pointed to a 17 percent reduction in heart attacks and a 15 percent reduction in coronary disease.
However, the study found a more modest trend towards reduction in strokes with intensive control of glucose levels compared to standard care.
Conversely, there were no adverse effects on deaths from any cause, as suggested by previous smaller studies.
Diabetics are known to be at increased risk of heart disease. Even though patients can reduce their risk by maintaining healthy blood pressure levels and cholesterol reduction, the risk remains high, said a Cambridge University release.
The five trials involved more than 33,000 individuals, including 1,497 heart attack cases, 2,318 cases of coronary heart disease, and 1,227 stroke victims.
These findings were published in the latest issue of The Lancet.
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