Hypertension and Diabetes

Abstract

Co-presentation of hypertension and diabetes leads to a significantly greater increase of cardiovascular mortality than each disease separately. Hypertension appears to be not only a complication of diabetes but apparently also shares a common pathogenetic mechanism, particularly in non-insulin dependent diabetes. Recent data suggest alterations in the nocturnal decline of blood pressure in diabetics, which together with microalbuminuria, may prove to be a predictor of nephropathy and hypertension. When hypertension occurs in diabetics, it requires a vigorous therapeutic approach. Nevertheless, the presence of diabetes modifies the requirement for first line therapy, particularly with respect to potential alterations of metabolic homeostasis in order to effectively prevent cardiovascular complications.

Key Words:

• Hypertension
• diabetes
• epidemiology
• pathogenesis
• therapy
• prevention