The American Diabetes Association clinical practice recommendations suggest actions be taken for glycemic control in individuals with HbA1c greater than 8%.  The reason?  There is a direct relationship between blood glucose levels and the risk of complications. The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) was a nationwide, multi-center trial with 1,441 patients with Type 1 diabetes which was done to determine if keeping glucose levels as close as possible to the normal range would reduce the risks of serious, long-term diabetes complications. Of the most common complications:                Risk of retinopathies decreased by up to 76%                Risk of neuropathy decreased by up to 60%                Risk of nephropathy decreased by up to 56%