Drug therapy for the hypertensive diabetic patient: implications for the diabetes educator

A variety of side effects associated with the use of antihypertensive medications may occur in any patient with diabetes mellitus. Also, some antihypertensive agents produce symptoms that would be insignificant to the nondiabetic patient but may be life-threatening to the patient with diabetes mellitus. Therefore, it is imperative to instruct patients to be aware of any changes they may notice after starting an antihypertensive medication or changing their antihypertensive drug regimen. With this increased awareness and an increase in glucose monitoring (when necessary), the patient is prepared to recognize subtle changes in blood glucose levels or other conditions related to diabetes mellitus--changes that might otherwise go unnoticed. As diabetes educators, being knowledgeable about the pharmacodynamics of various antihypertensive medications, their influence on diabetes, and any risks the drugs may impose on the diabetic patient gives us a sound base to intervene with patients and prevent potentially life-threatening complications.