Both groups had similar baseline characteristics ( mean [ SD ] age , 54.7 [ 9.3 ] years ; 57 % men ; disease duration , 9.4 [ 7.7 ] years ; HbA ( 1c ) level , 8.2 % [ 1.6 % ] ; systolic blood pressure , 136 [ 19 ] mm Hg ; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level , 2.89 [ 0.82 ] mmol/L ; 17.4 % cardiovascular-renal complications ; and 34.9 % insulin treated ) .