VHRM-4331-Prevention of diabetes in hypertensive patients: R

Correspondence: Ming-Sheng Zhou Vascular Biology institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Nephrology-Hypertension Section, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1201 Nw 16 Street, Room A-1009, Miami, FL 33125, USA Tel +1 305 575 3103 Fax +1 305 575 3378 email [email protected] Abstract: A growing number of experimental and clinical studies have provided evidence indicating that pharmacological blockade of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) by either angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin type 1 receptor blockers reduces the incidence of new onset type 2 diabetes in subjects with hypertension and/or cardiovascular disease, independently of antihypertensive and cardiovascular protective effects. The beneficial effects of RAS inhibition on the development of diabetes have been largely attributed to improvements in peripheral insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism. This review focuses on recent experimental and clinical evidence supporting the role of RAS inhibition in the reduction of new onset type 2 diabetes and the mechanisms that may be involved.