View article

In type 2 diabetes mellitus the aetiology of long-term complications is multifactorial. We carried out a randomised trial of stepwise intensive treatment or standard treatment of risk factors in patients with microalbuminuria.

In this open, parallel trial patients were allocated standard treatment (n=80) or intensive treatment (n=80). Standard treatment followed Danish guidelines. Intensive treatment was a stepwise implementation of behaviour modification, pharmacological therapy targeting hyper-glycaemia, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and microalbuminuria. The primary endpoint was the development of nephropathy (median albumin excretion rate >300 mg per 24 h in at least one of the two-yearly examinations). Secondary endpoints were the incidence or progression of diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy.

The mean age was 55·1 years (SD 7·2) and patients were followed up for 3·8 years …