Antihypertensive therapy in type II diabetes after Appropriate Blood pressure Control in Diabetes (ABCD)

The Appropriate Blood pressure Control in Diabetes trial demonstrated a cardioprotective effect of ACE inhibitors in the treatment of hypertension in type II diabetes. Therefore, it is prudent to initiate antihypertensive therapy in these patients with an ACE inhibitor. An equally important point is that most diabetic hypertensive patients require more than one medication to achieve the newly defined optimal level of blood pressure control for this patient population (<130/185 mm Hg).