The lack of short-term cardiovascular benefit observed when therapies to improve glycaemic control are used in patients with diabetes mellitus has drawn attention to the need to limit potential risks of treatment, especially those related to hypoglycaemia. A recent report considers HbA1c levels <7% in older people a sign of overtreatment, but other findings suggest additional ways to identify and control risk.
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M.C.R. acknowledges support from the Rose Hastings and Russell Standley memorial trusts.
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M.C.R. has received research grants from AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi, has acted as a consultant for Biodel, Elcelyx, Sanofi and Veleritas, and has received honoraria from Sanofi.
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Riddle, M. Controlling glucose levels in elderly people—benefits versus risks. Nat Rev Endocrinol 11, 257–258 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2015.23
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2015.23