Abstract
Preview A sizeable portion of diabetic patients also have hypertension, and diabetic complications (nephropathy, retinopathy, and atherosclerosis) are accelerated when hypertension is present Because some drugs that are used for hypertension have adverse effects that may be of special concern to diabetic patients, traditional stepped-care therapy must be modified for these patients. Dr Raskin describes the merits and drawbacks of using thiazide diuretics, beta-and alpha-adrenergic blocking agents, central sympatholytic agents, direct vasodilators, calcium-entry blockers, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors.