Inhibition of renin-angiotensin system: implications for diabetes control and prevention

Several large-scale clinical studies have consistently demonstrated that use of inhibitors of renin-angiotensin system such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers was associated with significant reduction of new-onset diabetes in patients with insulin resistance such as primary hypertension. Such observations stimulated major investigations into the interaction of angiotensin and insulin signaling systems, which in turn led to the discovery of a cross talk at several steps between the 2 pathways. Evidence from these clinical trials and from the experimental models of insulin resistance including our findings in ZSF rat and other animal models will be discussed in this review.