It simply shows that there is a correlation between vitamin D level and glucose control.

CNN: Do vitamins help against type 2 diabetes?

With intense glucose control you may reduce your overall risk of diabetic neuropathy by as much as 60 percent.

CNN: Diabetic neuropathy

In the conditions above, the HgA1C that is measured is accurate, but the reading is not representative of glucose control.

CNN: Why do my A1C results from different sources vary?

We see high HgA1Cs that are accurate measurements, but not reflective of glucose control in people with low red cell turnover from iron, vitamin B12 or folate deficiency.

CNN: Why do my A1C results from different sources vary?

Novartis hopes that LAF237 combined with metformin will provide patients with more lasting glucose control. (The company is also testing the drug on its own, and will release data on June 8).

FORBES: Novartis Results Heat Up Diabetes Drug Race

Recently we have seen additional examples of favorable changes in laboratory tests without the expected reduction in risk for tight glucose control for diabetes, fibrate therapy for diabetics, and niacin therapy for patients with heart disease.

FORBES: AstraZeneca Study is Good News for the Public, Bad News for AstraZeneca

The FDA will require that GSK develop a restricted access program for Avandia under a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy, or REMS. Under the REMS, Avandia will be available to new patients only if they are unable to achieve glucose control on other medications and are unable to take Actos (pioglitazone), the only other drug in this class.

FORBES: Avandia Saved By The Power of REMS