For people with diabetes, and their loved ones, diabetes is a chronic illness that requires dedication and support in order to live a life without limits. Although the foundations of diabetes care have not changed much over the years, people with diabetes have never had so many options to choose from.

Keeping your blood glucose levels within range, even one-half of the time, can result in both immediate and long-term benefits. You can help control your blood glucose levels with a good meal plan, regular physical activity and if needed, medication. The results of blood glucose monitoring are used daily so you can see the impact of food, medication and activity level on your body. Then you and your health care professional can spot trends and make adjustments to find what works best for you.

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LIPITOR REDUCES HEART RISKS FOR DIABETES

Last Updated: 2005-06-02 12:02:21 -0400 (Reuters Health)

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor, known generically as atorvastatin, reduces cardiovascular events in people with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, a study shows.

The findings confirm that regardless of "cholesterol level at baseline, the use of atorvastatin by patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension reduces adverse cardiovascular events by about a quarter," Dr. Neil R. Poulter of Imperial College, London, told Reuters Health.

In light of these results and other data, Poulter added, "physicians really need to find a good reason why not to include a statin as part of routine treatment for all patients with type 2 diabetes."

The investigator and his and colleagues examined data from a large trial that included more than 10,000 hypertensive patients with no history of coronary heart disease, but at least three cardiovascular risk factors.

The researchers focused on the 2532 participants who had diabetes at the start of the study. The subjects, who did not have very high cholesterol levels, were randomly assigned to take Lipitor or an inactive placebo.

After 3 years, there were 116 (9 percent) major cardiovascular events such as heart attacks or procedures such as coronary bypass surgery in the Lipitor group and 151 (12 percent) in the placebo group -- a significant reduction -- the researchers report in the journal Diabetes Care.

The team concludes that it seems reasonable to prescribe statin therapy routinely for people with diabetes, particularly older patients and those with a long duration of diabetes.

SOURCE: Diabetes Care, May 2005.