"People with diabetes are at increased risk for developing heart and vascular disease. The results of the current study suggest that the management of cardiovascular risk for type 2 diabetes patients is "less than appropriate," the study team concludes in the journal Diabetes Care this month. "

"In a study of more than 12,000 patients, the researchers found that only about 22 percent received a heart-protecting anti-clotting drug like aspirin in the year after anti-diabetes medication was begun. Only about 40 percent received an antihypertensive and 21 percent received a cholesterol-lowering drug, the investigators report. "

"Only 7.6 percent received a comprehensive cardioprotective regimen including all three types of medication, they found. "

""Treating a diabetic person is important. However, controlling (blood sugar) should not be the only treatment goal even in people aged 65 years or over," study investigator Dr. Jean-Pierre Gregoire, from Laval University, Quebec City, told Reuters Health. "

"Gregoire suggested that doctors "may not be sufficiently aware of the benefits of treating elderly individuals with diabetes using cardioprotective medications. Given their life-expectancy, these individuals can also benefit from pharmacologic cardiovascular
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