Reducing HbA1c and losing weight can combat death and vascular events, research shows

In people with type 2 diabetes, reductions in HbA1c and body weight are effective in preventing the risk of vascular events and mortality, academics have said.

A team of researchers have investigated the impact of glucose-lowering therapy-induced glycaeted haemoglobin (HbA1c) reduction on the risk of major clinical events according to body weight change.

In addition, they have evaluated the impact of concomitant reductions in HbA1c and body weight on major clinical events.

During the study, the academics searched the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases up to June 30, 2022, for large-scale studies on glucose-lowering therapies in which more than 1000 patient-years of follow-up in each randomised group were completed.

Thirty-four trials involving 227,220 people with type 2 diabetes were meta-analysed using a random-effects model.

Each one per cent reduction in HbA1c was associated with a different risk of mortality depending on the ability of glucose-lowering therapies to induce body weight loss or gain.

The results stated: “When glucose-lowering therapies were associated with weight gain, the risk of mortality increased by eight per cent for each one per cent reduction in HbA1c.

“When glucose-lowering therapies were associated with weight loss, the risk of mortality was reduced by 22 per cent for each one per cent reduction in HbA1c.

“In addition, concomitant reductions in HbA1c and body weight were associated with a significantly lower risk of mortality and vascular events.”

Read the research here.