Determining the optimal fasting glucose target for patients with type 2 diabetes: Results of the multicentre, open‐label, randomized‐controlled FPG GOAL trial

The optimal fasting blood glucose (FBG) target of achieving HbA1c less than 7.0% in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients remains controversial. This open‐label trial randomized (1:3:3) 947 adults with uncontrolled T2D (HbA1c >7% to ≤10.5%) who were using one to three oral antidiabetic drugs to achieve an FBG target of 3.9 < FBG ≤5.6 mmol/L (Group 1), 3.9 < FBG ≤6.1 mmol/L (Group 2) or of 3.9 < FBG ≤7.0 mmol/L (Group 3). Targets were achieved using a pre‐defined insulin glargine 100 U/mL titration scheme. The primary endpoint was proportion of patients achieving HbA1c <7.0% at 24 weeks. At 24 weeks, 44.4%, 46.1% and 37.7% of patients achieved HbA1c <7.0% in Groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively (P = 0.017; Group 2 vs Group 3). Alert hypoglycaemia (glucose ≤3.9 mmol/L) was significantly more frequent in Group 1 than in Group 3 (38.9 vs 23.3%; P < 0.001) but was not in Group 2 vs Group 3 (27.5% vs 23.3%; P = 0.177). Clinically important hypoglycaemia (glucose ≤3.0 mmol/L) was reported in 4.8%, 2.0% and 3.8% of patients in Groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. In conclusion, the optimal FBG target for most Chinese patients with T2D appears to be 3.9‐6.1 mmol/L.