In diabetes, treat hidden heart disease

ABSTRACT

Both diabetic and prediabetic patients have abnormal vascular reactivity and should be considered to have occult cardiovascular disease. Angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are particularly beneficial in diabetes because they reduce the incidence of both cardiovascular events and diabetes-related complications. In prediabetic patients, ACE inhibitors also reduce the risk of a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Managing hypertension is even more beneficial for diabetic patients than for nondiabetic patients. To further reduce the risk of heart disease in patients with diabetes or prediabetes, dyslipidemia should also be treated aggressively.