The Legacy Effect in Type 2 Diabetes: Impact of Early Glycemic Control on Future Complications (The DiabetesAging Study)

OBJECTIVE To examine for a legacy effect of early glycemic control on diabetic complications and death. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This cohort study of managed care patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes and 10 years of survival (1997–2013, average follow-up 13.0 years, N = 34,737) examined associations between HbA1c RESULTS Compared with HbA1c CONCLUSIONS Among patients with newly diagnosed diabetes and 10 years of survival, HbA1c levels ≥6.5% (≥48 mmol/mol) for the 1st year after diagnosis were associated with worse outcomes. Immediate, intensive treatment for newly diagnosed patients may be necessary to avoid irremediable long-term risk for diabetic complications and mortality.