The scientists looked at information from the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS), which followed people with type 2 diabetes over many years. They wanted to see how early blood sugar levels affected the chances of having a heart attack or dying 10 to 20 years later. This shows that waiting too long to manage blood sugar can greatly reduce the benefits of treatment. These findings highlight how important it is to detect type 2 diabetes early and to start treatment as soon as possible. The sooner blood sugar is brought under control, the better the chances of avoiding long-term damage to the heart and other organs.