The influence of nicardipine in type 2 diabetic patients with slight hypertension

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study was carried out over 120 days to assess the metabolic tolerance and patient acceptability of nicardipine in 20 patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and slight hypertension. Following a 21-day washout period during which all patients received placebo, 13 men and 7 women (mean age 45 years, systolic blood pressure 150-165 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure 85-100 mm Hg) were randomly assigned to treatment with oral nicardipine 60-90 mg/day (n = 9) or placebo (n = 11). No significant differences were observed between the nicardipine- and placebo-treated groups in terms of fasting and postprandial blood glucose concentrations, fasting plasma insulin levels, or glycosylated hemoglobin A1c after 60 and 120 days' treatment. There was also no change in the plasma levels of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and apolipoproteins. Side effects were minor and did not differ significantly between groups. All patients who had received nicardipine for 120 days wished to pursue treatment. Nicardipine, which was well tolerated, appears to be an interesting alternative for the treatment of mild essential hypertension in Type 2 diabetic patients, although further studies are required to establish its effects on renal function in this population.