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Researchers: Other medical problems may influence diabetics' blood sugar ta

Category: Diabetes

People who suffer from type-2 diabetes and frequently experience other medical problems may need to consider more factors besides strict blood sugar control when treating their condition, researchers say.

According to Dr Sheldon Greenfield, a professor of medicine at the University of California at Irvine, the appropriate blood sugar control target for type-2 diabetics "has been a subject of controversy for a decade," HealthDay News reports.

In a recent study, Greenfield and his team of researchers measured the benefits (in terms of heart attacks and cardiovascular problems) that 2,613 diabetics received from achieving blood glucose levels below 6.5 percent, slightly below generally recommended levels.

The researchers found that blood glucose levels below 6.5 percent in patients with other medical problems frequently led to the exacerbation of high blood pressure and cholesterol as well as heart, gastrointestinal and foot conditions.

"The message for people with lots of medical conditions is that…they can ease up a bit on blood glucose levels and focus on the other medical conditions they have," Greenfield told the news source.

The American Diabetes Association recommends the A1C diabetes test to help diagnose the condition.