Hypertension in the person with diabetes

Hypertension is more common in persons with both insulin-dependent and noninsulin-dependent diabetes. Pathophysiologic mechanisms that result in an increased prevalence of essential hypertension in noninsulin-dependent diabetes, premature diastolic hypertension in insulin-dependent diabetes, and systolic hypertension in both forms of diabetes are described. Aggressive treatment of the hypertension associated with diabetic nephropathy will result in a deceleration of renal decompensation. The commonly used antihypertensives that successfully treat hypertension in the non-diabetic population often have unacceptable side effects in the diabetic population. Rational approaches to the treatment of diabetic hypertension in general and in circumstances unique to the hypertensive diabetic individual are described.