UKPDS Group — intensive blood-glucose control (UKPDS 33)¶

One-paragraph summary¶

Newly diagnosed T2D participants were randomised to intensive sulfonylurea/insulin or conventional dietary management. Intensive treatment achieved lower glycaemia and reduced aggregate diabetes-related and microvascular endpoints, establishing that glucose lowering prevents complications while also documenting hypoglycaemia and weight trade-offs (PMID 9742976).

Key findings¶

Microvascular benefit was the clearest within-trial outcome.
Macrovascular benefit became clearer only in post-trial legacy follow-up (PMID 18784090; PMID 38772405).

Limitations¶

Treatment era predates current statins, SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1RA.
Open-label strategy trial; therapies and background risk care evolved.

Why it matters¶

It changed T2D from symptom management to complication prevention and created the evidentiary basis for HbA1c-directed care.

Cited by wiki pages¶

Glycaemic management
Guidelines
Overview