Diuretics Effective for People with Diabetes and High Blood Pressure

The latest findings from the “Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial” or ALLHAT, sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, are published in the June 27 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

ALLHAT is the largest study to compare these three major classes of medications to treat high blood pressure. The study originally reported in 2002 that diuretics were more beneficial as initial treatment for high blood pressure for protecting against adverse cardiovascular outcomes. This latest analysis shows that even among diabetics and those with mildly elevated fasting glucose — a sign of pre-diabetes — the less costly diuretics are at least as effective, may be more beneficial for some people.

Message posted by: Rashmi Nemade