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Diabetic Polyneuropathy and Glucose Control

Thomas E. Finucane, MD
JAMA. 2010;303(5):420-421. doi:10.1001/jama.2010.55
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To the Editor: In his Clinical Crossroads article discussing diabetic polyneuropathy in a patient with type 2 diabetes, Dr Rutkove1 stated that improved glucose control should be recommended to all patients with that diagnosis, citing the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) that was conducted in patients with type 1 diabetes.2 He also cited 2 case series in type 1 diabetes as support that tight control can improve symptoms quickly.

Three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in type 2 diabetes (UKPDS 33,3 ADVANCE,4 and VADT5 ) have shown that tight control did not benefit diabetic neuropathy. In the largest of these,4 with more than 10 000 patients, there was a non–statistically significant increase in new or worsening neuropathy in the tight control group.

Extrapolating evidence from type 1 diabetes to the treatment of type 2 diabetes is a foundation for the continuing strong belief in tight control. The RCTs, however, suggest that this belief is a mistake.

AUTHOR INFORMATION

Financial Disclosures: None reported.

REFERENCES

Rutkove SB. A 52-year-old woman with disabling peripheral neuropathy: review of diabetic polyneuropathy  JAMA. 2009;302(13):1451-1458
PubMedCrossRef
Genuth S. Insights from the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial/Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications study on the use of intensive glycemic treatment to reduce the risk of complications of type 1 diabetes.  Endocr Pract. 2006;12(suppl 1)  34-41
PubMed
UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) Group.  Intensive blood-glucose control with sulphonylureas or insulin compared with conventional treatment and risk of complications in patients with type 2 diabetes (UKPDS 33).  Lancet. 1998;352(9131):837-853
PubMedCrossRef
Patel A, MacMahon S, Chalmers J,  et al; ADVANCE Collaborative Group.  Intensive blood glucose control and vascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes.  N Engl J Med. 2008;358(24):2560-2572
PubMedCrossRef
Duckworth W, Abraira C, Moritz T,  et al; VADT Investigators.  Glucose control and vascular complications in veterans with type 2 diabetes.  N Engl J Med. 2009;360(2):129-139
PubMedCrossRef

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Rutkove SB. A 52-year-old woman with disabling peripheral neuropathy: review of diabetic polyneuropathy  JAMA. 2009;302(13):1451-1458
PubMedCrossRef
Genuth S. Insights from the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial/Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications study on the use of intensive glycemic treatment to reduce the risk of complications of type 1 diabetes.  Endocr Pract. 2006;12(suppl 1)  34-41
PubMed
UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) Group.  Intensive blood-glucose control with sulphonylureas or insulin compared with conventional treatment and risk of complications in patients with type 2 diabetes (UKPDS 33).  Lancet. 1998;352(9131):837-853
PubMedCrossRef
Patel A, MacMahon S, Chalmers J,  et al; ADVANCE Collaborative Group.  Intensive blood glucose control and vascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes.  N Engl J Med. 2008;358(24):2560-2572
PubMedCrossRef
Duckworth W, Abraira C, Moritz T,  et al; VADT Investigators.  Glucose control and vascular complications in veterans with type 2 diabetes.  N Engl J Med. 2009;360(2):129-139
PubMedCrossRef
February 3, 2010
Seward B. Rutkove, MD
JAMA. 2010;303(5):420-421.
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