What were the results of the UKPDS study on intensive blood-glucose control with metformin in overweight patients with type 2 diabetes?
The UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) Group conducted a study in 1998 that looked at the effect of intensive blood-glucose control with metformin on complications in overweight patients with type 2 diabetes. The results of the study showed that intensive blood-glucose control with metformin was associated with a reduction in the risk of developing microvascular complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy. Additionally, the study also showed that intensive blood-glucose control was associated with a reduction in the risk of macrovascular complications such as myocardial infarction and stroke. However, there was no significant benefit in terms of mortality. These results were supported by subsequent studies such as the PRO-active study (2005), the ACCORD, ADVANCE and VA diabetes trials (2009) and a systematic review of glucose control and cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes (2009). 