In the clinical management of diabetes, we are accustomed to a “one-size-fits-all” blood sugar control model: all patients follow the same blood sugar control target and use similar treatment plans. However, this model neglects the individual differences among diabetic patients and often fails to achieve the best therapeutic effect. Recently, a large-scale study involving 800,000 people has revealed a new direction for diabetes management, calling on us to bid farewell to the “one-size-fits-all” approach to blood sugar control and move towards an individualized and precise treatment model.
1. The truth about blood sugar control revealed by a study involving 800,000 people
In October 2024, a research team from Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, published a study in the journal Nature Communications, exploring the relationship between elevated fasting blood glucose and cardiovascular disease mortality among Chinese adults. The study included nearly 800,000 participants aged 25 and above. By observing their fasting blood glucose and the mortality data of cardiovascular diseases at the provincial level across the country from 2010 to 2018, some important conclusions were drawn. blood glucose monitor system
1.1 The prevalence and regional differences of elevated blood sugar
Research has found that fasting blood glucose levels increase for both men and women. For men, it rises from 5.7 mmol/L to 5.9 mmol/L, and for women, it increases from 5.6 mmol/L to 5.8 mmol/L. The number of deaths from cardiovascular diseases related to high fasting blood glucose has increased in all provinces, but there are significant regional differences.
1.2 Severe Challenges of Blood Glucose Control in Northeast China
The research results show that the annual mortality rate of cardiovascular diseases caused by elevated fasting blood glucose among residents in Northeast China is the highest, with 66.87 cases per 100,000 people. The top three provinces are Heilongjiang, Liaoning and Jilin. This result suggests that diabetic patients in different regions may require different management strategies.
1.3 The significant impact of the environment and lifestyle
Why do people’s blood sugar levels in Northeast China tend to get out of control? Research indicates that cold regions in our country are characterized by low winter temperatures, large temperature differences, frequent cold waves, heavy snowfall, thick snow accumulation, and long durations. Coupled with risk factors such as unhealthy lifestyles, they are prone to promoting the occurrence and development of diseases like type 2 diabetes. Specifically, there are mainly the following reasons:
Environmental factors: Cold can deteriorate the metabolic function of brown adipose tissue in patients with type 2 diabetes, cause problems with body temperature regulation and the autonomic nervous system, and easily lead to poor blood sugar control. In northern regions, the duration of sunlight in winter is short, and residents have relatively less time to be exposed to the sun, which can lead to insufficient synthesis of vitamin D in the body and aggravate insulin resistance.
Dietary factors: People in the north have a higher proportion of carbohydrates in their diet, and their dishes are more flavorful, high in salt and oil. They often have to thicken the sauce. Excessive alcohol consumption is also an important risk factor for chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.
Exercise factors: In the north, the cold season lasts for a long time, and people tend to have less outdoor activities than in the south. Insufficient physical activity is also an important risk factor for chronic diseases such as diabetes.
2. The necessity of saying goodbye to the “one-size-fits-all” sugar control approach
The traditional “one-size-fits-all” blood sugar control model has many drawbacks and can no longer meet the needs of modern diabetes management. blood glucose test kit
2.1 Ignoring Individual Differences
There are significant differences among diabetic patients in terms of age, gender, weight, disease duration, complications, and genetic background. These differences can affect the goals of blood sugar control and the choice of treatment plans. For instance, younger patients may require stricter blood sugar control to reduce the risk of long-term complications; Elderly patients, on the other hand, may require more lenient blood sugar control to prevent hypoglycemia.
2.2 Poor therapeutic effect
A one-size-fits-all approach to blood sugar control often fails to achieve the best therapeutic effect. Studies have shown that individualized blood sugar control targets and treatment plans can significantly increase the blood sugar target attainment rate of diabetic patients, reduce the occurrence of complications, and improve the quality of life.
2.3 Waste of medical resources
The “one-size-fits-all” sugar control model may lead to the waste of medical resources. For instance, for some patients who do not require strict blood sugar control, over-treatment may increase medical costs and the risk of adverse reactions. For some patients who need strict blood sugar control, insufficient treatment may lead to the occurrence of complications and increase the medical burden.
3. Practical Paths for individualized blood sugar Control
To bid farewell to the “one-size-fits-all” blood sugar control approach and move towards an individualized and precise treatment model, we need to start from the following aspects.
3.1 Establish individualized blood sugar control targets
Based on factors such as the patient’s age, gender, weight, disease duration, complications, and genetic background, individualized blood glucose control targets should be established. For example:
Young patients ( Elderly patients (≥65 years old) : Fasting blood glucose 5.0-7.8mmol/L, non-fasting blood glucose <11.1mmol/L, glycated hemoglobin <7.5%;
For patients with severe complications: The blood sugar control target can be appropriately relaxed to prevent hypoglycemia.
3.2 Select individualized treatment plans
Based on factors such as the patient’s blood sugar control target, pancreatic islet function, insulin resistance degree, and complications, an individualized treatment plan is selected. For example:
For patients with good pancreatic islet function: Oral hypoglycemic drugs can be chosen for treatment, such as metformin, sulfonylureas, glilinide, DPP-4 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors, etc.
Patients with poor pancreatic islet function: Insulin treatment is required, such as basal insulin, premixed insulin, mealtime insulin, etc.
Patients with cardiovascular diseases: They can choose hypoglycemic drugs with cardiovascular protective effects, such as GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors, etc.
Patients with concurrent kidney diseases: They can choose hypoglycemic drugs that have a smaller impact on the kidneys, such as metformin, DPP-4 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists, etc. blood glucose testing
3.3 Strengthen lifestyle intervention
Lifestyle intervention is the foundation of diabetes management, including diet control, moderate exercise, weight management, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol intake, etc. Patients in different regions may require different lifestyle intervention strategies. For example:
Patients in cold regions: It is necessary to pay attention to keeping warm, appropriately increase indoor exercise, and supplement vitamin D.
Patients in areas with a high-salt and high-oil diet: They need to reduce the intake of salt and oil and increase the intake of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, etc.
Patients in areas with high alcohol consumption: It is necessary to limit the amount of alcohol intake and it is best to quit drinking.
3.4 Enhance patients’ self-management ability
The self-management ability of patients is the key to the success of diabetes management. Medical staff need to enhance the education and guidance for patients and improve their self-management ability. For example:
Teach patients how to monitor blood sugar, how to adjust their diet, how to exercise, and how to use hypoglycemic drugs correctly, etc.
Help patients establish a healthy lifestyle, such as regular schedules and maintaining a good state of mind, etc.
Regularly follow up with patients and adjust the treatment plan in a timely manner.
4. Future Outlook: A New Era of Precise Sugar Control
With the continuous advancement of medical technology, diabetes management will usher in a new era of precise blood sugar control.
4.1. Genetic Testing and Individualized Treatment
Genetic testing can help us understand a patient’s genetic background, predict their response to different hypoglycemic drugs, and thus select the most suitable treatment plan for the patient. For instance, certain genetic variations may affect a patient’s response to metformin. Genetic testing can help us identify these patients and prevent ineffective treatment.
4.2 Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analysis
Artificial intelligence and big data analysis can help us analyze a large amount of clinical data, discover the patterns and trends of diabetes management, and provide a basis for individualized treatment. For instance, artificial intelligence can predict a patient’s blood sugar changes based on their blood sugar data, dietary data, exercise data, etc., and remind the patient to adjust the treatment plan in a timely manner.
4.3 Research and Development of new Hypoglycemic Drugs
The development of new hypoglycemic drugs has brought new hope to the management of diabetes. For instance, GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors not only effectively control blood sugar but also have cardiovascular protective effects, significantly reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases in diabetic patients. cheap glucose meter
This large-scale study involving 800,000 people has revealed a new direction for diabetes management, calling on us to bid farewell to the “one-size-fits-all” blood sugar control approach and move towards an individualized and precise treatment model. As medical staff, we need to update our concepts, enhance our learning, and improve our professional level to provide patients with more high-quality, efficient and individualized medical services. At the same time, we also need to enhance the education and guidance for patients, improve their self-management ability, and jointly combat the global health challenge of diabetes.
Let’s join hands and move forward together, bid farewell to the “one-size-fits-all” sugar control approach, and embrace a new era of precise sugar control!
Post time: Feb-11-2026