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Tight blood sugar control linked to decreased risk of neuropathy

Category: Diabetes

Diabetics who aggressively control their glucose levels through regular blood testing and medications as needed may be significantly less likely to develop neuropathy than those with poor blood sugar control, according to a new study published in the Cochrane Review.

In the study, researchers from the University of Michigan reviewed the findings of six previously published investigations into the effects of blood sugar control. Two of the studies under review involved people with type 1 diabetes, while the other four featured type 2 diabetics.

The result showed that people with type 1 diabetes who maintained strict glucose control were significantly less likely to develop neuropathy, an uncomfortable and at times  painful neurological condition, than those who had less intensive blood sugar management. The same was true for type 2 diabetics, though the association was not as pronounced.


Still, the researchers cautioned that it will be important to develop more precise glucose targets than ones that currently exist before they recommend intensive blood sugar management. While lower blood sugar levels are generally associated with improved health in diabetics, depressing glucose levels too far can increase the risk of hypoglycemia, which can be a dangerous state.