Effect of Intensive Therapy on the Microvascular Complications of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

The purpose of this report is to summarize and integrate the findings of the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT), a randomized controlled clinical trial, and the succeeding observational follow-up of the DCCT cohort in the Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC) study, regarding the effects of intensive treatment on the microvascular complications of type 1 diabetes mellitus. The DCCT proved that intensive treatment reduced the risks of retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy by 35% to 90% compared with conventional treatment. The absolute risks of retinopathy and nephropathy were proportional to the mean glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) level over the follow-up period…

• NH
  National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• NI
  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• NC
  National Center for Research Resources
• DO
  Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases