An approach to heart failure and diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic progressive disease that results in microvascular and macrovascular complications. Diabetes is a significant independent risk factor for heart failure, and there are a substantial number of patients with diabetes and heart failure. Neurohormonal activation plays an important pathophysiologic role in insulin resistance, diabetes, cardiovascular events, and progression of heart failure. Pharmacologic intervention in these neurohormonal systems (ie, angiotensin-converting enzyme [ACE] inhibition, aldosterone antagonism, and beta-adrenergic blockade) has been shown to decrease the morbidity and mortality of diabetes and of heart failure. Despite this knowledge, ACE inhibitors, aldosterone antagonists, and beta-blockers are grossly underutilized, and deaths and hospitalizations due to heart failure have steadily increased. Guidelines for the management of heart failure recommend the use of ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers in patients with mild, moderate, and severe heart failure with or without diabetes. Aldosterone antagonists are recommended in severe heart failure and recent data also support their use in mild to moderate heart failure. Concerns about increased incidence of hypoglycemia, worsening dyslipidemia, and decreased insulin sensitivity with beta-blockers may be preventing physicians from prescribing these agents for their patients with diabetes who have heart failure. Beta-blockade, in conjunction with ACE inhibition and aldosterone antagonism, should be standard therapy for all patients with diabetes and heart failure. Furthermore, every effort should be made to ensure that eligible patients are treated with these evidence-based, guideline-recommended, life-prolonging therapies.