Cardiovascular disease was reduced by 30% in type 1 diabetes patients who had intensive therapy during the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial 30 years ago. At 30 years of follow-up, a study published online February 9th 2016 in Diabetes Care involving 1441 patients, found a 30% reduction in the incidence of any cardiovascular disease and a 32% reduction in the incidence of major cardiovascular disease events (nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke or cardiovascular death) in type 1 diabetes patients who were in the intensive therapy group, compared with those in a conventional therapy group. This was despite the intensive therapy period only lasting an average of 6.5 years.
It is reassuring to see that type 1 diabetes patients who were taught intensive therapy to manage their diabetes, have long-term beneficial effects on the incidence of cardiovascular disease that persist for up to 30 years.
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