Large clinical trials clearly show the benefits of aggressive treatment of hypertension in patients with diabetes. The WHO/ISH guidelines now recommend a target BP for diabetic patients of <130/85 mmHg. However, there is still no evidence on the relative benefits of treatment with different drug therapies in these patients. Of particular interest is the recently developed class of highly specific Ang II receptor blockers (ARBs) such as valsartan. The results of the VALUE trial and other studies should reveal the potential role of ARBs in treating these high-risk hypertensive patients.
Cardiac, renal and vascular complications in the diabetic patient. Publishing Authors By Initials