Studies to determine whether reducing the A1c will also reduce the cardiovascular risk are planned. One would assume that it would, but until it's been proven, one can't say for sure. Sometimes high or low levels of something are associated with a disease, but changing those levels with drugs or supplements has no effect on the disease.

Nevertheless, I'd say there's a good chance that it will be proven that lowering your A1c will reduce your cardiovascular risk as well as reducing your risk of microvascular complications (kidney damage, eye damage, and nerve damage); for the latter there's already good evidence.

This doesn't mean you should ignore your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. These also important cardiovascular risk factors. But don't listen to the Times when it says there's no evidence that blood glucose levels are not important in preventing heart attacks. There is.