Abstract

Cardiovascular disease accounts for around 60% of deaths in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and diabetes is the leading cause of renal dysfunction and premature death in the UK.1^,2 A key factor in these outcomes is that many people with type 2 diabetes also have raised blood pressure, which increases the likelihood of vascular complications.3–5 Lowering elevated blood pressure, using one or more antihypertensive drugs, reduces illness and mortality rates in such people.6^,7 National guidelines advocate the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin-II receptor antagonists in selected patients with type 2 diabetes.3^,8^,9 Here we review whether such treatment offers advantages over other antihypertensive drugs.