"However, for those who have a ‘history of severe hypoglycemia, limited life expectancy, advanced microvascular or macrovascular complications, extensive comorbid conditions, and those with longstanding diabetes in whom the general goal is difficult to attain despite diabetes self-management education, appropriate glucose monitoring, and effective doses of multiple glucose lowering agents including insulin,' less stringent A1C goals should be considered, according to the statement. Specific goals for people with these conditions should be determined by an individual's health care team."

Let's remember that "damage may already be done" tells us not to ignore our diabetes control on the theory that we can make up for it later. Good control is important at all times if we want to avoid suffering the consequences later.

However, even in this study of diabetes patients with poor control, although the better control didn't affect the mortality, after 8 years, about 80% of the patients in both groups were still alive.

Having diabetes, even poorly controlled diabetes, does not mean an immediate death sentence for the majority of patients.