Glycemic Targets in Diabetes Care: Emerging Clarity after Accord.

Through the 1990s convincing evidence emerged from studies involving relatively recent onset diabetes that glycemic control achieving glycated hemoglobin A1c levels of approximately 7% was associated with improved microvascular outcomes. Based on advocacy groups' statements encouraging lower targets and recognition of cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death in diabetes, the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) study was funded in 1999 to explore more intensive targets and techniques in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Most surprisingly, intensive management targeting normal levels of glycemia was associated with increased mortality and the ACCORD trial was terminated early in 2008. Post hoc analyses have allowed the emergence of some clarity around the role of glycemic management and targets in diabetes care and are the subject of this review.