In what has to be one of the most irresponsible reporting on study data I've ever seen, the New York Times today headlined Tight Rein on Blood Sugar Has No Heart Benefits, penned by Gina Kolata.
Throughout the entire article we find statements without qualification as to how study participants were attempting to lower blood sugars:
Two large studies involving more than 21,000 people found that people with Type 2 diabetes had no reduction in their risk of heart attacks and strokes and no reduction in their death rate if they rigorously controlled their blood sugar levels.
[...]
Thus both studies failed to confirm a dearly held hypothesis that people with Type 2 diabetes could be protected from cardiovascular disease if they strictly controlled their blood sugar.
[...]
Still, said Dr. John Buse, president for medicine and science of the diabetes association, the blood sugar/cardiovascular disease hypothesis has failed for people with established Type 2 diabetes.
For these patients, “intensive management of A1C for cardiovascular risk probably isn’t worth it,” Dr. Buse said.
The two studies both sought to control blood sugars through intensive use of pharmaceuticals - with no control group to compare findings in those utilizing dietary and lifestyle interventions shown to improve blood glucose and HbA1C levels (carbohydrate restriction) with lower levels of medications or no medication.
The blanket statement that the trials " failed to confirm a dearly held hypothesis that people with Type 2 diabetes could be protected from cardiovascular disease if they strictly controlled their blood sugar" leaves out one critical qualification - the sentence should end with "through intensive use of medication."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
Unbelievable Regina! I can't believe someone would be so irresponsible as not to include the whole truth on a subject so important. This kind of baloney burns me up!
ReplyDeleteIf the studies measured insulin levels I bet they would have reached a different conclusion.
ReplyDeleteTruly unbelievable. But that's like comparing cheerios to fruit loops and then announcing that the more fiber in your breakfast the healthier. The use of science has become a scam.
ReplyDeleteAre we REALLY surprised this came from Gina Kolata? She's been on her high horse ever since coming out with her silly book RETHINKING THIN where she puts the focus of obesity on society and that we're all just doomed to be whatever size we are no matter how we eat. No wonder she was so down on her colleague Gary Taubes' Good Calories, Bad Calories when it came out last year.
ReplyDeleteThe latest news I've read admits that "in neither study were patients encouraged to eat a healthier diet or exercise, both proven to help lower the risks and symptoms of both diabetes and heart disease."
ReplyDeleteNo, just fill them full of drugs, forget good eating habits, and hope for the best. Yikes!
This is fodder for insurance companies and medicare to stop paying for home blood sugar testing equiment.
ReplyDelete