Improved blood pressure control can be obtained The study showed that intensive blood pressure treatment is acceptable to people with diabetes, and that better blood pressure control than standard management can be obtained. Within nine years approximately one-third of patients required three different types of treatment. Serious side -effects were unusual. Since medicine is the art of the feasible, a high priority could be given to ensuring good control of blood pressure. Different goals apply according to the age and type of diabetes.
Some people can often have difficulty in maintaining the lower level.
Hg diastolic was advantageous over higher levels. In addition, there was some observational evidence that it may be worth aiming for a blood pressure of less than 140mmHg systolic, or even less than 130 mm Hg systolic. This decision will need to take into account other circumstances of people with diabetes. At present diabetic complications are often regarded as being a natural outcome from a chronic disease. The study shows that this is not the case and that with good management, including improved blood pressure and blood glucose control, may help to make complications less common and no longer a half-expected outcome.