The role of glycemic control in the development of late complications of diabetes mellitus

Abstract

The incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus is constantly increasing throughout the world. It is known that type 2 diabetes is associated with the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, chronic heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. Modern therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus requires complex treatment and should be aimed not only at reducing glycemia, but also at managing the risks of cardiovascular and renal complications. The results of large scientific studies ADVANCE, ACCORD and VADT have clearly proven the role of glycemic control in the prevention of microvascular complications of diabetes. A number of studies have established that the parameters of glycemic variability are of independent importance in predicting diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy and cardiovascular complications. Hyperglycemia also plays an important role in the development of macrovascular complications. The modern approach to the management of diabetes as one of the most important methods of preventing micro-and macroangiopathies includes the need for mandatory self-monitoring of blood glucose. Self-monitoring of glycemia should be accurate, simple and convenient, allowing the patient to carry out effective and safe glucose-lowering therapy. One of the main aspects of self-monitoring of blood glucose is the choice of a glucometer. From the doctor’s point of view, the most important criterion for choosing a glucometer is compliance with accuracy standards, and from the patient’s point of view, convenience and ease of use. Thanks to the improvement of technology, the accuracy of blood glucose measurements increases, the procedure for self-monitoring of glycemia is simplified, which leads to increased adherence to treatment and the effectiveness of glucose-lowering therapy. Achieving and maintaining the target glycemic level, preventing micro-and macrovascular complications are impossible without the active full participation of the patient himself in the treatment of diabetes, self-monitoring of blood glucose using an accurate and patient-friendly glucometer, i.e., Contour Plus One.