Intensive insulin therapy could prolong life after heart attack in type 2 diabetics

In the first study of its kind, researchers from Sweden found intensive insulin treatment prolonged the lives of type-2 diabetic patients who had suffered heart attacks.

The trial, which started in 1990, involved 620 patients with type 2 diabetes. When the patients were admitted to the hopsital with a suspected heart attack, they were either given intensive insulin treatment or standard glucose-lowering treatment for one year. Researchers hoped to determine whether the difference in treatment could affect mortality in the long run.

Patients who received the insulin treatment were given an insulin-glucose infusion for at least 24 hours, followed by insulin injections four times a day for at least three months.

Intensive insulin treatment benefited patients

The trial showed that patients who had received the intensive insulin treatment survived about 2.3 years longer than those who received the standard treatment. Most of the patients, who were followed for up to 20 years after the trial, had died.


"Patients who were at low cardiovascular risk (less than 70 years old, no history of heart attack or congestive heart failure) and had not previously had insulin therapy when the trial started seemed to benefit the most from intensive insulin treatment," a press release on the study stated.

And while the study shows a positive association between insulin treatment after a heart attack and mortality in type 2 diabetics, the authors are careful to say the effects probably would have been different if the study had been conducted today, not starting in the '90s.

"Compared with 1990 ... there have been many advances in conventional treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular complications, such as more frequent use of medication to lower cholesterol (statins) and blood pressure (angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors)," the press release concluded.


Source: The Lancet
Photo credit: antpkr/FreeDigitalPhotos.net


More Articles

With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.

Farro...

Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....

With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...

If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...

In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.

When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...

More Articles

If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....

For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.

A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...

According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...

Eleven Clinical Studies

After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...

Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...

Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...

Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...

Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...

Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....

When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...

Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.

The...

Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...

Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...

Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...

One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...