Management issues in hypertensive diabetics

  • James A Ker University of Pretoria
Keywords: hypertensive diabetics

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus and hypertension are common clinical conditions that often co-exist. This combination has been called the deadly duet to emphasise the increased cardiovascular risk when the two conditions co-exist. Hypertension occurs more commonly in diabetics than in comparable non-diabetics, as the prevalence of hypertension in diabetics is about two times higher than that of hypertension as observed in the general population. In type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension is often present as part of a possible common underlying metabolic abnormality, such as insulin resistance. However, in type 1 diabetes mellitus, hypertension is often due to the onset of diabetic nephropathy.

Author Biography

James A Ker, University of Pretoria
MBChB, MMed(Int), MD Deputy Dean Senior Specialist Department of Internal Medicine Faculty of Health Sciences University of Pretoria
Section
Review Articles