|
|
Blood pressure drugs reduce diabetes risk
According to researchers, patients given a mix of modern blood pressure drugs are one-third less likely to develop diabetes than those on older medications. The results from Europe's biggest ever trial of hypertensive patients showed only 8 percent given the newer drugs developed diabetes after five years, compared to 11.4 percent of those on the older drugs.
The trial involved 19,257 participants, 14,120 did not have diabetes at the outset and because the results were so promising the trial was stopped early. The newer drugs proved to be 34 percent more effective in reducing the risk of diabetes in hypertensive patients and better at reducing strokes and heart attacks. The trial compared a regimen of a beta blocker and a diuretic with a combination of Norvasc® and Coversyl. Norvasc®, known generically as amlodipine, is a calcium channel blocker, while Coversyl (perindopril) is an ACE inhibitor.
Beta blockers which are extensively used to treat blood pressure are on the whole off patent and sold generically, and are usually prescribed along with diuretics, which are also inexpensive. High blood pressure increases a persons risk for developing type 2, or adult-onset, diabetes by two or three times, which adds to their risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
|
|
|
