Trying to pinpoint who benefits from tight blood glucose control is keeping researchers busy. A study found that older adults with type 2 diabetes (but few other illnesses) and A1Cs of less than 7 percent had a lower risk of heart attack or stroke over five years than those with higher A1Cs. But the same was not true for those who had several other medical conditions. Their risk remained the same whether or not they achieved an A1C (average blood glucose level over two to three months) of 7 percent. These findings square with American Diabetes Association recommendations that doctors consider less stringent A1C goals for older, less healthy people with type 2.
Source: Annals of Internal Medicine, Dec. 15, 2009