Because blindness, dialysis, amputation, and heart disease is harder!
Results from the DCCT and the longitudinal followup EDIC study:
Note, the DCCT study design defined tight control as A1c 6% or less (NOT how the ADA defines "tight control"). The actual results of the study did not meet this original goal -- the actual A1c achieved was on average 7%. The decreased risk factors cited below are for the 7% group, not participants that achieved 6%.
This 6% figure has caused some controversy here on TuD. While it is simply my own opinion -- so please don't read anything more into it than that -- the 6% figure is important because that's what the study designers thought was a proper target to shoot for (being close to "normal"), and presumably believed was beneficial. As such, it's my view that, despite the study failing to achieve 6%, there is merit nonetheless in assuming the risk reductions seen at 7% will be even greater at 6% (or even lower).
DCCT Study Findings
- Intensive blood glucose control reduces risk of eye disease: 76% reduced risk
- kidney disease: 50% reduced risk
- nerve disease: 60% reduced risk
EDIC Study Findings
- Intensive blood glucose control reduces risk of any cardiovascular disease event: 42% reduced risk
- nonfatal heart attack, stroke, or death from cardiovascular causes: 57% reduced risk
Some other epidemiological stats important to diabetics:
- Diabetic kidney disease is the most common cause of kidney failure in the United States. After having diabetes for 15 years, one-third of people with type 1 diabetes develop kidney disease.
- According to the National Eye Institute, one of the National Institutes of Health, as many as 24,000 people with diabetes lose their sight each year.
- Neuropathy is a major contributing factor in foot and leg amputations among people with diabetes.
This is all nicely summarized here. I found this looking around for results from EDIC. Enjoy!