For people with
diabetes, and their loved ones, diabetes is a
chronic illness that requires dedication and
support in order to live a life without
limits. Although the foundations of diabetes
care have not changed much over the years,
people with diabetes have never had so many
options to choose from.
Keeping your blood glucose levels within
range, even one-half of the time, can result
in both immediate and long-term benefits. You
can help control your blood glucose levels
with a good meal plan, regular physical
activity and if needed, medication. The
results of blood glucose monitoring are used
daily so you can see the impact of food,
medication and activity level on your body.
Then you and your health care professional can
spot trends and make adjustments to find what
works best for you.
To learn more
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LIPITOR REDUCES HEART RISKS FOR DIABETES
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The
cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor, known generically as
atorvastatin, reduces cardiovascular events in people with
type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, a study shows.
The findings confirm that
regardless of "cholesterol level at baseline, the use of
atorvastatin by patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension
reduces adverse cardiovascular events by about a
quarter," Dr. Neil R. Poulter of Imperial College,
London, told Reuters Health.
In light of these results and
other data, Poulter added, "physicians really need to
find a good reason why not to include a statin as part of
routine treatment for all patients with type 2 diabetes."
The investigator and his and
colleagues examined data from a large trial that included more
than 10,000 hypertensive patients with no history of coronary
heart disease, but at least three cardiovascular risk factors.
The researchers focused on the
2532 participants who had diabetes at the start of the study.
The subjects, who did not have very high cholesterol levels,
were randomly assigned to take Lipitor or an inactive placebo.
After 3 years, there were 116
(9 percent) major cardiovascular events such as heart attacks
or procedures such as coronary bypass surgery in the Lipitor
group and 151 (12 percent) in the placebo group -- a
significant reduction -- the researchers report in the journal
The team concludes that it
seems reasonable to prescribe statin therapy routinely for
people with diabetes, particularly older patients and those
with a long duration of diabetes.
SOURCE: Diabetes Care, May