Intensive Diabetes Therapy Halves Kidney Disease Risk

Thu, 17 Nov 2011

Intensive diabetes treatment to control blood glucose levels cuts the risk of future kidney problems by half, according to a new study published online in the New England Journal of Medicine .

The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) and Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC) Research Group said near-normal control of blood glucose beginning soon after diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and continuing for an average six and a half years reduced the long-term risk of developing kidney disease by 50 per cent, compared to conventional therapy.

The risk of kidney failure was also halved, but the difference was not significant, perhaps due to the relatively small number of patients who reached that stage of the disease.

Participants typically entered the DCCT six years after onset of diabetes when complications of the disease were absent or very mild.

Half aimed for near-normal glucose control (intensive therapy), while the other half received what was then standard glucose control.

22-years later, the researchers found that 24 members of the intensive group developed significantly reduced kidney function and eight progressed to kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplantation. Of those given conventional therapy, 46 developed kidney disease and 16 kidney failure .

Ian H. de Boer, kidney specialist at the University of Washington, Seattle, and one of the main authors of the study, said: "Achieving near-normal glucose levels in type 1 diabetes can be challenging. But our study provides strong evidence that reinforces the benefits of reaching the goal as early as possible to slow or prevent kidney disease and other complications ."

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