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Postprandial Blood
Glucose Predicts Cardiovascular Events
posted 04/25/2006
Postprandial blood glucose is better
than fasting blood glucose in predicting cardiovascular events in patients with
type 2 diabetes.
Dr. Mariella Trovati from University of Turin told Diabetes In Control that, "In
type 2 diabetic patients, not only fasting blood glucose and glycated
hemoglobin, but also postprandial blood glucose should be measured and taken
into consideration in planning the treatment,", Italy.
Dr. Trovati and colleagues investigated whether postprandial blood glucose, either after breakfast or after lunch, predicts cardiovascular events better than fasting blood glucose, and whether the relationships between blood glucose and cardiovascular events differ in 284 men and 245 women.
Blood glucose after lunch was higher than blood glucose after breakfast in men and women, the authors report, and the differences were greater in patients with cardiovascular events.
In men, a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular events was observed only for increasing levels of blood glucose after lunch.
In contrast, several blood glucose levels (fasting blood glucose, blood glucose after lunch, and blood glucose before dinner) were significantly associated with the risk for cardiovascular events in women, the researchers note.
However, the investigators note, only blood glucose after lunch remained a significant predictor in a model that included all blood glucose values.
The hazard ratio for blood glucose after lunch was significantly greater in
women (5.54) than in men (2.12), the report indicates.
"At present, we are evaluating our series of patients after 10 years, to clarify
whether the impact of postprandial blood glucose on cardiovascular events is
still evident after such a long follow-up," Dr. Trovati said.
"The meaning of postprandial blood glucose in the clinical practice is a
matter of very intense debate," the authors conclude. "Our study supports the
conclusion that it should be carefully considered in type 2 diabetic patients,
because it plays a relevant predictive role for cardiovascular events,
especially in women."