• •The United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) compared the effects of tightly controlled blood glucose with a less tightly controlled regimen consistent with the guidelines of the time.
• •A subset of patients with hypertension was also randomized to a tight control of blood pressure or to a less stringent regimen. This slide shows the risk reduction associated with tight control of blood glucose (green) and tight control of blood pressure (blue).
• •The UKPDS showed a nonsignificant trend in cardiovascular risk reduction with stringent glucose control, due to a smaller than expected treatment effect. As a consequence, there were large number-needed-to-treat values for most of the diabetes-related endpoints.

Vijan S, Hayward RA. Treatment of hypertension in type 2 diabetes mellitus: blood pressure goals, choice of agents and setting priorities in diabetes care. Ann Intern Med. 2003;138:593-602.