A major federal study has been partially halted after researchers reported an increase in their risk of death.  The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases proposed the study in the 1990s to study more than 10,000 middle-aged and older individuals with Type 2 diabetes to study how the disease should be managed.  Study participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups to get their blood sugar levels to nearly normal levels, and 54 more deaths were reported in the group whose levels were less rigidly controlled.  All patients assigned to the intensive blood sugar lowering group have been reassigned to a less intense regimen as researchers try to understand the results which so far have been difficult to explain. 

Doctors stress that the results do not mean blood sugar is meaningless but that now there is slightly more uncertainty about the old mantra - that the lower the blood sugar the better and that lowering blood surgar levels to normal saves lives. Patients are encouraged to discuss their diabetes monitoring and treatment with their doctors before making any drastic changes.

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