Issue 160 Item 7 Early Tight Diabetes Control Associated With Less Coronary Calc

A continuing follow-up of the patients from the DCCT cohort, showed that early intensive glycemic control is associated with reduced coronary artery calcification later on, even if glucose control has subsequently become less intense over time.

That’s according to long-term follow-up data from the Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC) study, a multicenter observational study of 1150 type 1 diabetics from the original DCCT cohort, presented during the American Diabetes Association’s 63rd Annual Scientific Sessions in New Orleans.
Computed tomography of the coronary arteries seven to nine years after the start of EDIC revealed significantly less coronary calcification in those in the intensive control vs. conventional control arm of DCCT.

“Intensive control, bringing blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible for an average of 6-1/2 years, yielded reduced atherosclerosis even after 8 years of less effective control, compared to those who never achieved tight control,” said Dr. John Lachin head of the DCCT/EDIC Coordinating Center in an press statement.
In addition, the original intensive control group has continued to show markedly less progression of microvascular disease.

In comments at a press conference, the co-chair of the DCCT/EDIC study Dr. David Nathan of Harvard said: “Data are accumulating to support a role of hyperglycemia in cardiovascular disease in type 1 diabetes, similar to its role in the pathogenesis of the microvascular complications. The DCCT/EDIC study demonstrates a beneficial effect of intensive therapy aimed at normalizing long-term glucose control on coronary atherosclerosis."


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