How to Manage Hypertension in People With Diabetes

Abstract

Hypertension is a common condition that is often seen in patients with diabetes. Both diseases increase the risk of morbidity and mortality from CV events and kidney disease progression. Factors that influence blood pressure (BP) control in diabetes include the persons' genetic background for hypertension and kidney disease, level of obesity and insulin resistance, the magnitude of preexisting kidney disease, and lifestyle factors, such as level of sodium and potassium intake, sleep quality and exercise effort all of which can affect levels of sympathetic nerve activity and contribute to increased BP variability. Lifestyle intervention is a key component to the effective management of diabetes and hypertension and can markedly reduce event rates of both heart and kidney outcomes. The approach to pharmacologic treatment of BP in diabetes is crucial since certain classes of agents for both BP and diabetes confer significant benefits to reduce cardiorenal outcomes.