The New Nation - Internet Edition

Endocrinologist Prof. Zafar A Latif in a scientific symposium held on 3 July 2008 told that intensive blood glucose reduction based on Diamicron MR can protect diabetic patients from serious vascular complications.

In a symposium on ADAVANCE study, including more than 70 Endocrinologist and Diabetologist, organized by Servier Bangladesh Operations, Prof. Latif as the keynote speaker said that it is the largest study ever performed in type 2 diabetes. The study was conducted by "the George Institute for International Health" and involved more than 11,000 patients from 20 different countries all over the world; who were treated and followed up for five years.

The results of the ADVANCE study were released in the last American Diabetes Association Congress in June 2008 and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Major findings of the study demonstrates that Diamicron MR based intensive treatment protects diabetic patients from serious vascular complications by reducing both micro and macrovascular events by -10%. This result is mainly driven by a major protective effect on the kidneys by -21% reduction of nephropathy and -30% reduction of development of macroalbuminuria. Furthermore cardiovascular death was reduces by -12%.

Prof. Latif concluded that the prevention of serious vascular complications in diabetes requires a multi-factorial approach addressing all modifiable risk factors, among which intensive blood glucose control plays an important role which was by Diamicron MR.