How do you evaluate the studies that show that strict control of A1c does not have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular events?

This person is referring to the ACCORD study, which in its initial unsophisticated scoring supposedly showed that a large group of elderly diabetics who had existing heart disease, died sooner when their A1cs were brought down.

A re-study has been done of the data, which, it turns out, was evaluated incorrectly. They’ve now broken down the population into subgroups and found that the only people who died earlier were those whose A1cs did not drop. This was a study that used ADA guidelines, so everyone was likely put on a high-carbohydrate diet. Those people whose A1cs went up are the ones who died sooner. The ones whose A1cs went down, lived longer. 

So, here you have a study that was initially reported to give just the opposite of the ultimate results. Why hasn’t that reevaluation appeared in the newspapers, or the ADA publications for patients, and so on? No one has issued any major press releases. You’d think the ADA would let all the diabetic patients know about this. In fact, in a recent issue of their publication for patients, they are still advocating that you not aggressively try to lower blood sugars. 

It’s as if diabetes is an orphan disease. No one cares. Well, there are a few people that care, like David Mendosa, and Jimmy Moore, and you might want to visit their web sites. (Mendosa: www.mendosa.com; Moore: www.livinlavidalowcarb.com)

Dr. Richard K. Bernstein is a long-time advocate for a low-carb approach to the management of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Diagnosed 60 years ago with type 1, Dr. Bernstein pioneered the concept of reducing insulin use and blood sugar levels by reducing carbohydrate, rather than protein and fat, intake, a now accepted approach that the diabetes establishment resisted for years. The Long Island-based  physician, whose practice treats only patients with diabetes and prediabetes, has published four books on diet and blood sugar control. His Diabetes Solution website has extensive information on his personal history and diabetes management philosophy.

 

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