Hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

Hypertension is extremely common in patients with diabetes mellitus. In type 1 diabetes it usually signifies the onset of nephropathy. Tight control of hypertension in diabetes has shown to decrease the complications like ischaemic heart disease and renal failure thereby reducing the morbidity and mortality. Management of hypertension in diabetes include weight reduction, dietary restriction of sodium, adequate intake of potassium and calcium, regular exercise, cessation of smoking and drug therapy. Many type 2 diabetic patients require more than one drug for good blood pressure control. Even though many of the hypotensive drugs are effective in diabetic patients, ACE inhibitors have an edge over the other drugs in view of its favourable effect on the accompanying co-morbid conditions.