Heart Drug Benefits Type 2 Diabetes
Heart Drug Benefits Type 2 Diabetes
Drug Protects Blood Pressure, Kidneys, and Odds of Survival
This study may provide the "best available evidence" of the benefits for people with type 2 diabetes, says Johnson. "Many people with less severe diabetes -- regardless whether they have heart disease or not -- could benefit from ACE inhibitors," he tells WebMD.
Donald G. Vidt, MD, consultant in the department of nephrology and hypertension for The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, offered his opinion of the findings.
Johnson's study helps back up what doctors have long suspected -- that ACE inhibitors have an effect independent of heart disease, Vidt explains.
"These drugs are commonly used, and relatively well tolerated," he tells WebMD. "It would appear that use of ACE inhibitors significantly reduces risk of early death. This is a big issue because we don't necessarily recommend starting ACE inhibitors in every [patient with type 2 diabetes]. But this study suggests we need to look again at this issue. There may be benefit to starting patients on these drugs very early."
Another class of high blood pressure medications, called angiotensin receptor blockers, can be substituted for people who can't tolerate ACE inhibitors, Vidt says. Examples of these drugs include Avapro, Cozaar, and Diovan.
Heart Drug Benefits Type 2 Diabetes
Drug Protects Blood Pressure, Kidneys, and Odds of Survival
5 Years of Evidence continued...
- 9% of the ACE inhibitor group died, compared with 17% of those not taking the medication.
- Of those deaths, only 3% in the ACE inhibitor group were related to heart disease, compared with 5% in the comparison group.
This study may provide the "best available evidence" of the benefits for people with type 2 diabetes, says Johnson. "Many people with less severe diabetes -- regardless whether they have heart disease or not -- could benefit from ACE inhibitors," he tells WebMD.
Advice for Newly Diagnosed Diabetes Patients
Donald G. Vidt, MD, consultant in the department of nephrology and hypertension for The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, offered his opinion of the findings.
Johnson's study helps back up what doctors have long suspected -- that ACE inhibitors have an effect independent of heart disease, Vidt explains.
"These drugs are commonly used, and relatively well tolerated," he tells WebMD. "It would appear that use of ACE inhibitors significantly reduces risk of early death. This is a big issue because we don't necessarily recommend starting ACE inhibitors in every [patient with type 2 diabetes]. But this study suggests we need to look again at this issue. There may be benefit to starting patients on these drugs very early."
Another class of high blood pressure medications, called angiotensin receptor blockers, can be substituted for people who can't tolerate ACE inhibitors, Vidt says. Examples of these drugs include Avapro, Cozaar, and Diovan.
