[Arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes]

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is frequently associated with arterial hypertension and the combination of both entities markedly increases the vascular risk. In type 2 diabetes, hypertension appears very early, especially in the presence of obesity, is part of the insulin resistance syndrome, and contributes to high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality rates in this population. Appropriate regulation of blood pressure is crucial in order to reduce not only microangiopathy (nephropathy and retinopathy) but also macroangiopathy (coronary heart disease and stroke) in hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients. Target blood pressure values have been decreased in recent years and should be < 130/85 mmHg, and may be even lower according to recent data. The optimal modalities of pharmacological treatment remain controversial, but obviously several medications are required to reach such objectives in most hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes.