Anti-hypertensive drugs v high blood pressure

A study carried out at the Rush Medical College in Chicago which re-examined 22 trials involving more than 143 000 patients who did not have diabetes when they started taking 2 particular types of beta blockers and diuretics designed to lower blood pressure, found that these antihypertensive drugs actually increased the risk of diabetes. 

It has been suspected for 50 years or so that this is the case because these drugs lower a patient’s glucose tolerance levels. 

The suspicion has been hard to define because many patients with high blood pressure are more likely to develop diabetes anyway.

On the other hand 2 other types (ACE inhibitors) reduced the risk of diabetes.

Source : The Lancet, 2007; 369: 201-7)

Monday, 9 April 2007