The Largest Ever Study of Diabetes Shows Intensive Glucose Control Reduces Serious...

The Largest Ever Study of Diabetes Shows Intensive Glucose Control Reduces
Serious Complications

SAN FRANCISCO, California, June 6 /PRNewswire/ --
- "ADVANCE Results go Beyond Existing Evidence"
New results from the world's largest ever study of diabetes treatments
show that intensive blood glucose (sugar) control using modified release
gliclazide and other drugs as required, protects patients against serious
complications of the disease. In particular, intensive treatment reduces the
risk of kidney disease by one-fifth. Presented today at the American Diabetes
Association and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the results
of ADVANCE (Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease) show that this intensive
treatment strategy has the potential to benefit millions of diabetic patients
worldwide.
Diabetes mellitus is one of the greatest threats to the health of
populations worldwide. Globally, there are approximately 250 million people
with diabetes and that number is estimated to rise to 380 million in 2025.
Chief investigator of the study, Professor Stephen MacMahon, Principal
Director of The George Institute, Australia said "We are facing a global
epidemic of diabetes. The ADVANCE results go beyond existing evidence as we
have now shown that reducing the haemoglobin A1c level (a marker of blood
glucose control) to 6.5% is a safe and effective way to reduce serious
complications, particularly the risk of kidney disease, one of the most
serious and disabling consequences of diabetes, leading to death in one in
five people with diabetes."
"Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) was uncommon in the ADVANCE study,
although as expected it was more frequent among those receiving intensive
treatment," pointed out Study Director, Associate Professor Anushka Patel
from The George Institute. "These findings reinforce that blood glucose
lowering in diabetes is safe and has an important role to play in the
prevention of serious complications."
"Moreover, in contrast to the recently halted ACCORD study, there was no
evidence whatsoever of any increased risk of death among those receiving
intensive treatment in ADVANCE."
ADVANCE was initiated and designed by physicians at Australia's George
Institute for International Health and involved a group of independent
medical researchers from 20 countries worldwide. The study involved 11,140
patients with type 2 diabetes who were treated and followed up for five
years. The study aimed to reduce levels of haemoglobin A1c to 6.5% or below.
Intensive treatment included the sulfonylurea, modified-release gliclazide,
for all patients and other drugs as required to achieve the haemoglobin
target.
The major findings of ADVANCE show that intensive blood glucose lowering
treatment:
- Safely controlled blood glucose to a mean HbA1c level of 6.5%

- Significantly reduced the overall risk of serious diabetes
complications (by 10%), with a one-fifth reduction in kidney disease
(21%) and 30% reduction in the development of proteinuria, a well
established marker of increased cardiovascular risk.

- Achieved a positive trend towards reduction in the risk of
cardiovascular death (12%), although not statistically significant.

"Today, it is clear that the prevention of major vascular complications
of diabetes requires a multi-factorial approach addressing all modifiable
risk factors," concluded Professor John Chalmers, chairman of the study
management group, "among which an intensive glucose control plays an
important role, in particular in protecting the kidneys."
http://www.advance-trial.com
SOURCE ADVANCE

For further information, please contact: Emma Orpilla, Public Relations, The
George Institute for International Health, Tel: +612-9993-4500/ Mobile:
+614-1041-1983, Fax: +612-9993-4501/ email: eorpilla@george.org.au; Sarah
Ballard / Moira Gitsham, Tonic Life Communications, Tel: +44-207-798-9900/
Mobile: +44-7989-689-283, E-mail: sarah.ballard@toniclc.com /
moira.gitsham@toniclc.com