Lowering blood pressure reduces renal events in type 2 diabetes. Effects of intensive blood pressure control in the management of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) trial. Global Risk Assessment to Guide Blood Pressure Management in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Achievement and safety of a low blood pressure goal in chronic renal disease. The Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study Group. A cluster randomised controlled trial of the effect of a treatment algorithm for hypertension in patients with type 2 diabetes. A randomized trial of the effect of community pharmacist and nurse care on improving blood pressure management in patients with diabetes mellitus: study of cardiovascular risk intervention by pharmacists-hypertension (SCRIP-HTN). Effect of a Modest Weight Loss in Normalizing Blood Pressure in Obese Subjects on Antihypertensive Drugs A Collaborative Approach to Control Hypertension in Diabetes Management of uncontrolled hypertension in a nurse-led clinic compared with conventional care for patients with type 2 diabetes. Intensive Blood Pressure Control Reduces the Risk of Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease and Type 2 Diabetes Blood pressure 1 year after stroke: the need to optimize secondary prevention. Examination of lower targets for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and blood pressure in diabetes--the Stop Atherosclerosis in Native Diabetics Study (SANDS). Lower target blood pressures are safe and effective for the prevention of recurrent stroke: the PROGRESS trial Long-term follow-up after tight control of blood pressure in type 2 diabetes. Effect of intensive blood pressure control with valsartan on urinary albumin excretion in normotensive patients with type 2 diabetes. Effect of Exercise on Blood Pressure in Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial Improving hypertension control in a private medical practice.
BP is an important determinant of kidney disease among patients with diabetes . The recommended thresholds to initiate treatment to lower BP are 130/80 and 125/75 mmHg for people with diabetes and nephropathy , respectively . We sought to determine the effects of lowering BP below these currently recommended thresholds on renal outcomes among 11,140 patients who had type 2 diabetes and participated in the Action in Diabetes and Vascular disease : preterAx and diamicroN-MR Controlled Evaluation ( ADVANCE ) study . Patients were r and omly assigned to fixed combination perindopril-indapamide or placebo , regardless of their BP at entry . During a mean follow-up of 4.3 yr , active treatment reduced the risk for renal events by 21 % ( P < 0.0001 ) , which was driven by reduced risks for developing microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria ( both P < 0.003 ) . Effects of active treatment were consistent across subgroups defined by baseline systolic or diastolic BP . Lower systolic BP levels during follow-up , even to < 110 mmHg , was associated with progressively lower rates of renal events . In conclusion , BP-lowering treatment with perindopril-indapamide administered routinely to individuals with type 2 diabetes provides important renoprotection , even among those with initial BP < 120/70 mmHg . We could not identify a BP threshold below which renal benefit is lost To appreciate the importance of the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes ( ACCORD ) trial,1 one needs to remember that the systolic blood pressure ( BP ) target currently recommended by major guidelines for diabetic patients , that is , 130 mm Hg , except in the Appropriate Blood Pressure Control in Diabetes Study ( ABCD ) normotensive trial,7 which consisted of only a few hundred patients and had changes in creatinine clearance as the primary end point . Thus , ACCORD represents the only large-scale r and omized trial that provides information on what happens to the cardiovascular risk of diabetic patients  when SBP is reduced to 130 mm Hg as a result of r and omization to the usual ( rather than the tight ) BP control treatment strategy . Thus , the message from ACCORD to guidelines and clinical practice is that in diabetic patients it is not necessary to adopt Elevated blood pressure ( BP ) is a causal risk factor for cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) . Epidemiological analyses have established the grade d and continuous association between higher BP and CVD . Moreover , r and omized clinical trials among individuals with hypertension have demonstrated , in aggregate , a reduction in CVD events by 20 % , coronary heart disease ( CHD ) by 17 % , stroke by 27 % , and heart failure by 28 % for every 10 mm Hg systolic BP ( SBP ) lowering with medical therapy.1 Therefore , prevention , detection , treatment , and control of elevated BP , and its clinical correlate hypertension , is an important public health priority and a primary target for CVD prevention . Although national health surveys have demonstrated improvements in hypertension awareness and treatment , strategic opportunities to improve the efficiency and efficacy of applying BP-lowering therapy in patients most likely to benefit remain.2 Global CVD risk assessment , using multivariable prediction models that estimate absolute CVD risk from routinely measured clinical variables , has been promulgated in several CVD prevention guidelines for cholesterol management to target the most intensive preventive therapies to those at highest absolute CVD risk.3–5 Hypertension guidelines , however , have instead relied solely on isolated BP thresholds and BP goals to guide treatment initiation and intensity . In this review , we provide a rationale for incorporating global CVD risk assessment in BP treatment decision-making and propose a framework to guide its implementation in future CVD prevention guidelines . Epidemiological analyses have firmly established that CVD is a multifactorial condition and that modest increases of several CVD risk factors can often lead to greater overall risk than a severe elevation of a The Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study showed a beneficial effect of a lower-than-usual blood pressure ( BP ) goal on the progression of renal disease in patients with proteinuria . The purpose of the present analyses was to examine the achieved BP , baseline characteristics that helped or hindered achievement of the BP goals , and safety of the BP interventions . Five hundred eighty-five patients with baseline glomerular filtration rate between 13 and 55 mL/min per 1.73 m2 ( 0.22 to 0.92 mL/s per 1.73 m2 ) were r and omly assigned to either a usual or low BP goal ( mean arterial pressure < or = 107 or < or = 92 mm Hg , respectively ) . Few patients had a history of cardiovascular disease . All antihypertensive agents were permitted , but angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors ( with or without diuretics ) followed by calcium channel blockers were preferred . The mean ( + /- SD ) of the mean arterial pressures during follow-up in the low and usual BP groups was 93.0 + /- 7.3 and 97.7 + /- 7.7 mm Hg , respectively . Follow-up BP was significantly higher in subgroups of patients with preexisting hypertension , baseline mean arterial pressure > 92 mm Hg , a diagnosis of polycystic kidney disease or glomerular diseases , baseline urinary protein excretion > 1 g/d , age > or = 61 years , and black race . The frequency of medication changes and incidence of symptoms of low BP were greater in the low BP group , but there were no significant differences between BP groups in stop points , hospitalizations , or death . When data from both groups were combined , each 1-mm Hg increase in follow-up systolic BP was associated with a 1.35-times greater risk of hospitalization for cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease . Lower BP than usually recommended for the prevention of cardiovascular disease is achievable by several medication regimens without serious adverse effects in patients with chronic renal disease without cardiovascular disease . For patients with urinary protein excretion > 1 g/d , target BP should be a mean arterial pressure of < or = 92 mm Hg , equivalent to 125/75 mm Hg BACKGROUND Good blood pressure ( BP ) control reduces the risk of complications in people with type 2 diabetes , yet many do not achieve this . Guidelines for managing hypertension recommend increasing antihypertensive medications until control is achieved , but the effect of such recommendations in routine primary care is unknown . AIM To evaluate the effectiveness of a BP treatment algorithm in primary care patients with type 2 diabetes . DESIGN OF STUDY A cluster r and omised controlled trial of 1534 patients with type 2 diabetes . SETTING Forty-two practice s in Nottingham , UK . METHOD Practice s were r and omised to continue usual care or to use a treatment algorithm design ed so that practice nurses and GPs would increase antihypertensive treatment in steps until the target of 140/80 mmHg was reached . Participants were assessed by a clinical interview and case note review at recruitment and at 1 year . The primary outcome measure was the proportion of participants achieving target BP at 1 year . RESULTS At 1 year there was no difference between the proportions of participants with well controlled BP in the intervention and control arms ( 36.6 % versus 34.3 % ; P = 0.27 ) . Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were identical in the two arms ( 143/78 mmHg ) . There was some evidence that participants in the intervention arm were more likely to be receiving higher doses of their antihypertensive drugs , although there was no significant difference in the number of different antihypertensive drugs prescribed . Participants in the intervention arm had a higher rate of primary care BP-related consultations over 12 months than those receiving usual care ( rate ratio = 1.55 , 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] = 1.26 to 1.88 , P<0.001 ) . CONCLUSION Despite increased monitoring and possibly higher doses of medication there was no improvement in blood pressure control . Improvements achieved by specialist nurse-led clinics in secondary care may not translate to people with type 2 diabetes in primary care setting BACKGROUND Blood pressure ( BP ) control in patients with diabetes mellitus is difficult to achieve and current patterns are suboptimal . Given increasing problems with access to primary care physicians , community pharmacists and nurses are well positioned to identify and observe these patients . This study aim ed to determine the efficacy of a community-based multidisciplinary intervention on BP control in patients with diabetes mellitus . METHODS We performed a r and omized controlled trial in 14 community pharmacies in Edmonton , Alberta , Canada , of patients with diabetes who had BPs higher than 130/80 mm Hg on 2 consecutive visits 2 weeks apart . Care from a pharmacist and nurse team included a wallet card with recorded BP measures , cardiovascular risk reduction education and counseling , a hypertension education pamphlet , referral to the patient 's primary care physician for further assessment or management , a 1-page local opinion leader-endorsed evidence summary sent to the physician reinforcing the guideline recommendations for the treatment of hypertension and diabetes , and 4 follow-up visits throughout 6 months .  Control-arm patients received a BP wallet card , a pamphlet on diabetes , general diabetes advice , and usual care by their physician . The primary outcome measure was the difference in change in systolic BP between the 2 groups at 6 months . RESULTS A total of 227 eligible patients were r and omized to intervention and control arms between May 5 , 2005 , and September 1 , 2006 . The mean ( SD ) patient age was 64.9 ( 12.1 ) years , 59.9 % were male , and the mean ( SD ) baseline systolic/diastolic BP was 141.2 (13.9)/77.3 ( 8.9 ) mm Hg at baseline . The intervention group had an adjusted mean ( SE ) greater reduction in systolic BP at 6 months of 5.6 ( 2.1 ) mm Hg compared with controls ( P = .008 ) . In the subgroup of patients with a systolic BP greater than 160 mm Hg at baseline , BP was reduced by an adjusted mean ( SE ) of 24.1 ( 1.9 ) mm Hg more in intervention patients than in controls ( P < .001 ) . CONCLUSION Even in patients who have diabetes and hypertension that are relatively well controlled , a pharmacist and nurse team-based intervention result ed in a clinical ly important improvement in BP . Trial Registration clinical trials.gov Identifier : NCT00374270 Objective : To assess the effect of a lifestyle intervention in lowering/normalizing blood pressure ( BP ) levels in hypertensive ( controlled or not ) obese patients . Methods : In this prospect i ve observational study , 490 obese hypertensive patients , 389 controlled ( BP < 140/90 mm Hg ; CH ) and 101 uncontrolled ( BP ≥ 140/90 mm Hg ; UH ) attended a 3-month lifestyle intervention .  Before and after the intervention we assessed weight , waist circumference , fat mass , BP , metabolic and renal variables , and physical activity . A multivariate regression model was used to determine the predictors of BP changes . Results : 18.9 % of CH and 20.0 % of UH were on ≥ 3 antihypertensive drugs . Weight change ( average -4.9 ± 2.7 % ) was independent of the antihypertensive drugs employed . Systolic BP ( SBP ) decreased by 23 mm Hg and diastolic BP ( DBP ) by 9 mm Hg , in patients with UH most of whom ( 89 % ) normalized BP levels ( in 49 % after a weight loss < 5 % ) . Age , gender , whole and central obesity , concomitance of type 2 diabetes , chronic renal disease , physical activity intensification , and pharmacological therapy did not affect BP lowering . In the regression analysis with SBP change as dependent variable , weight reduction ( β = 0.523 , p = 0.005 ) and group ( UH vs. CH , β = -19.40 , p = 0.0005 ) remained associated with SBP reduction . When DBP change was entered as dependent variable , baseline uric acid remained associated with DBP reduction ( β = 0.824 , p < 0.05 ) . Conclusion : Lifestyle interventions are useful for all obese hypertensive patients in most of whom a modest weight loss is sufficient to normalize BP levels avoiding the aggressive use of multiple antihypertensive drugs We sought to develop and pilot an intervention to improve blood pressure ( BP ) and other intermediate outcomes ( hemoglobin A1c , low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ) of diabetes in a low-income , ethnically diverse population . English- or Spanish-speaking primary care patients with BP ≥ 140/90 on 2 visits in the past 12 months and any level of A1c were r and omized to usual care ( n = 24 ) or intervention ( n = 31 ) .  Home health nurses assessed self-management and medication adherence  , and they performed health behavior counseling . Participants transmitted daily BP and glucose results using simple home telemetry units to the nurse coordinator ; these results were then aggregated and transmitted weekly to primary care providers to facilitate intensified treatment . After controlling for baseline levels , a significantly larger proportion of the intervention group was at goal for BP ( adjusted OR = 9.3 , P = .006 ) and A1c ( AOR = 4.3 , P = .049 ) , but not for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( AOR = 1.1 , P = .86 ) . Clinicians made more BP medication changes in the intervention group compared to the control group ( 8.3 vs 3.8 , approaching significance at P = .06 ) . Self-reported medication adherence and self-care behaviors were not significantly improved . We successfully developed a telephone- and email-based collaboration between home health nurses and primary care clinicians to address poorly controlled hypertension in an ethnically diverse population . The intervention , combining enhanced feedback to patients and their primary care providers and individualized behavior change support by home health nurses , is effective for improving BP and glucose in this setting OBJECTIVE To compare the effectiveness of a nurse-led hypertension clinic with conventional community care in general practice in the management of uncontrolled hypertension in patients with type 2 diabetes . RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We studied 120 men and women outpatient attendees ( 61 % non-Caucasian ) with type 2 diabetes and a seated blood pressure ( BP ) > or=140/80 mmHg . All patients were being treated for hypertension , and 71 % had increased urinary albumin excretion ( UAE ) . Patients were allocated to either a nurse-led hypertension clinic or conventional primary care . The primary outcome measure was a change in systolic BP . Secondary outcome measures were total cholesterol , HDL cholesterol , total triglycerides , HbA(1c ) , UAE , serum creatinine , and changes in absolute stroke and coronary heart disease ( CHD ) risk scores . RESULTS The mean ( 95 % CI ) difference in the decrement of systolic BP was 12.6 mmHg ( 5.9 - 19.3 ) ( P = 0.000 ) in favor of the nurse-led group , whose patients were three times more likely to a reach target systolic BP < 140 mmHg compared with conventional care ( P = 0.003 ) . A significant fall in 10-year CHD ( P = 0.004 ) and stroke risk ( P = 0.000 ) scores occurred only in the nurse-led group . There were no significant differences in the reduction of diastolic BP or any of the other secondary outcome measures at 6 months . CONCLUSIONS Compared with conventional care , a nurse-led hypertension clinic is a more effective intervention for patients with type 2 diabetes and uncontrolled hypertension . A target systolic BP < 140 mmHg is more readily achieved and may be associated with significant reductions in 10-year cardiovascular disease risk scores Background —Peripheral arterial disease ( PAD ) and diabetes are both associated with a high risk of ischemic events , but the role of intensive blood pressure control in PAD has not been established . Methods and Results —The Appropriate Blood Pressure Control in Diabetes study followed 950 subjects with type 2 diabetes for 5 years ; 480 of the subjects were normotensive ( baseline diastolic blood pressure of 80 to 89 mm Hg ) . Patients r and omized to placebo ( moderate blood pressure control ) had a mean blood pressure of 137±0.7/81±0.3 mm Hg over the last 4 years of treatment . In contrast , patients r and omized to intensive treatment with enalapril or nisoldipine had a mean 4-year blood pressure of 128±0.8/75±0.3 mm Hg ( P < 0.0001 compared with moderate control ) . PAD , which is defined as an ankle-brachial index < 0.90 at the baseline visit , was diagnosed in 53 patients . In patients with PAD , there were 3 cardiovascular events ( 13.6 % ) on intensive treatment compared with 12 events ( 38.7 % ) on moderate treatment ( P = 0.046 ) . After adjustment for multiple cardiovascular risk factors , an inverse relationship between ankle-brachial index and cardiovascular events was observed with moderate treatment ( P = 0.009 ) , but not with intensive treatment ( P = 0.91 ) . Thus , with intensive blood pressure control , the risk of an event was not increased , even at the lowest ankle-brachial index values , and was the same as in a patient without PAD . Conclusions —In PAD patients with diabetes , intensive blood pressure lowering to a mean of 128/75 mm Hg result ed in a marked reduction in cardiovascular events Lowering blood pressure ( BP ) in stroke survivors reduces the risk of recurrent stroke . We tested the hypothesis that a nurse-led nonpharmacologic intervention would lower the BP of participants in an intervention group compared with a control group . A total of 349 patients who had sustained acute stroke or transient ischemic attack were r and omly assigned to either usual care or to 4 home visits by a nurse . During the visits , the nurse measured and recorded BP and provided individually tailored counseling on a healthy lifestyle . A total of 303 patients completed the 1-year follow up . No change in systolic BP was noted in either the intervention group or the control group . Because of an increase in diastolic BP in the control group ( P = .03 ) , a difference in mean diastolic BP between the 2 groups was found at follow-up ( P = .007 ) . Mean BP at follow-up was 139/82 mm Hg in the intervention group and 142/86 mm Hg in the control group . Linear regression analysis demonstrated that BP at the point of discharge was the strongest predictor of BP 1 year later ( P < .0001 ) . The proportion of patients on antihypertensive medication increased in the intervention group ( P = .002 ) . Patients were compliant with antihypertensive therapy , and 92 % of the hypertensive patients in the intervention group followed the advice to see a general practitioner ( GP ) for BP checkups . At follow-up , 187 patients ( 62 % ) were hypertensive , with no difference in the rate of hypertension seen between the groups . Our data indicate that home visits by nurses did not result in a lowering of BP . Patients complied with antihypertensive therapy and GP visits in the case of hypertension . Nonetheless , the majority of patients were hypertensive at the 1-year follow up Diabetes incidence is increasing rapidly in the United States . Diabetes increases the risk for cardiovascular disease , the major cause of death in diabetic individuals . The conventional cardiovascular risk factors of hyperlipidemia and hypertension worsen diabetic vascular disease . Treatment targets for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) and blood pressure in diabetic individuals are being debated . The S AND S is a r and omized , open-label , 3-year trial to examine the effects of aggressive LDL-C ( goal < 70 mg/dL ) and blood pressure ( BP ) ( goal < 115/75 mm Hg ) reduction versus the st and ard goals of < 100 mg/dL for LDL-C and < 130/85 mm Hg for BP .  Five hundred forty-nine American-Indian men and women > 40 years old with type 2 diabetes were r and omized to 1 of 2 groups . Lipids and BP are managed using Food and Drug Administration-approved medications in an algorithmic approach . The presence and progression of atherosclerosis are evaluated by carotid ultrasonography ; echocardiography assesses cardiac function . The primary end point is the composite outcome of change in carotid artery intimal medial thickness and fatal/nonfatal cardiovascular events . These outcomes are combined by using a ranked analysis for carotid thickness and assigning a " worst rank " for a cardiovascular event . Secondary end points include carotid plaque score , left ventricular geometry and function , serum C-reactive protein , and safety measures . Unique aspects of the study design and analysis plan involve the use of a composite outcome and changes during the trial of LDL-C treatment goals for participants with baseline or incident cardiovascular disease in the conventional group because of changes in the st and ard of care . Study results will further underst and ing of the effects of aggressive risk factor reduction on atherosclerosis burden and cardiac function in diabetic individuals in US population s and will help determine optimal LDL-C and BP treatment goals for diabetic patients Objective To explore the likely optimum blood pressure ( BP ) level for patients with a history of cerebrovascular disease . Methods The Perindopril Protection Against Recurrent Stroke Study ( PROGRESS ) was a r and omized , placebo-controlled trial that established the beneficial effects of BP lowering in 6105 patients with cerebrovascular disease . The present study comprises two series of post hoc analyses . The first was design ed to investigate the effects of r and omized treatment on recurrent stroke by baseline BP levels , and the second was a corresponding observational analysis investigating the association between achieved follow-up BP levels and recurrent stroke risk . Results Analyses of the r and omized treatment comparisons showed that BP lowering with combination therapy produced similar risk reductions in each of four subgroups defined by baseline BP of less than 120 , 120–139 , 140–159 , and 160 mmHg or greater ( P homogeneity = 0.5 ) . The effects of single-drug therapy were also comparable across these subgroups ( P homogeneity = 0.2 ) , but consistently greater benefits were observed with combination compared to single-drug therapy . The analyses of achieved follow-up BP showed that the lowest risk of recurrence was among the one-quarter of participants with the lowest follow-up BP levels ( median 112/72 mmHg ) , and that risks rose progressively with higher follow-up BP levels . Minor side-effects were progressively more common at lower BP levels ( P homogeneity = 0.04 ) , but there was no excess of serious complications ( all P homogeneity > 0.2 ) . Conclusion These analyses provide no evidence of a J-curve relationship between BP level and stroke risk among patients with cerebrovascular disease , and identify no patient group among whom more intensive BP lowering would not be expected to produce greater risk reductions BACKGROUND Post-trial monitoring of patients in the United Kingdom Prospect i ve Diabetes Study ( UKPDS ) examined whether risk reductions for microvascular and macrovascular disease , achieved with the use of improved blood-pressure control during the trial , would be sustained . METHODS Among 5102 UKPDS patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus , we r and omly assigned , over a 4-year period beginning in 1987 , 1148 patients with hypertension to  tight or less-tight blood-pressure control regimens .  The 884 patients who underwent post-trial monitoring  were asked to attend annual UKPDS clinics for the first 5 years , but no attempt was made to maintain their previously assigned therapies . Annual question naires completed by patients and general practitioners were used to follow patients who were unable to attend the clinic in years 1 through 5 , and question naires were used for all patients in years 6 to 10 . Seven prespecified aggregate clinical end points were examined on an intention-to-treat basis , according to the previous r and omization categories . RESULTS Differences in blood pressure between the two groups during the trial disappeared within 2 years after termination of the trial . Significant relative risk reductions found during the trial for any diabetes-related end point , diabetes-related death , microvascular disease , and stroke in the group receiving tight , as compared with less tight , blood-pressure control were not sustained during the post-trial follow-up . No risk reductions were seen during or after the trial for myocardial infa rct ion or death from any cause , but a risk reduction for peripheral vascular disease associated with tight blood-pressure control became significant ( P=0.02 ) . CONCLUSIONS The benefits of previously improved blood-pressure control were not sustained when between-group differences in blood pressure were lost . Early improvement in blood-pressure control in patients with both type 2 diabetes and hypertension was associated with a reduced risk of complications , but it appears that good blood-pressure control must be continued if the benefits are to be maintained . ( UKPDS 81 ; Current Controlled Trials number , IS RCT N75451837 . BACKGROUND Diabetes is the most common cause of renal failure in the United States , and data regarding the effects of aggressive blood pressure ( BP ) therapy in normotensive patients with type 2 diabetes are inadequate . METHODS A total of 129 type 2 diabetic patients with a BP of < 140/80 to 90 mm Hg without overt albuminuria were r and omized to either intensive BP control ( diastolic BP goal 75 mm Hg ) using an angiotensin II receptor blocker , valsartan , versus moderate BP control ( diastolic BP 80 to 90 mm Hg with placebo initially ) to evaluate the effect on the change in urinary albumin excretion ( UAE ) from baseline . RESULTS The mean entrance BP was 126 + /- 8.8/84 + /- 2.4 mm Hg . The mean follow-up period was 1.9 + /- 1.0 years . During the follow-up period , the mean BP was 118 + /- 10.9/75 + /- 5.7 for the intensive v 124 10.9/80 6.5 mm Hg for the moderate BP groups ( P < .001 ) . No difference was observed in change in creatinine clearance or serum creatinine from baseline between the two groups . An analysis of covariance model for change in log ( UAE + 1 ) , adjusting for age , HBA(1c ) , duration of diabetes , baseline log ( UAE + 1 ) , sex , and ethnicity result ed in a significant treatment difference at 2 years ( P = .007 ) with intensive BP control reducing log ( UAE+1 ) compared with moderate BP control . CONCLUSION Intensive BP control with valsartan to < 120/80 mm Hg in normotensive patients with type 2 diabetes and normo- or microalbuminuria significantly decreased the progression of UAE and in some cases caused regression of UAE BACKGROUND Increased blood pressure ( BP ) in type 2 diabetes ( T2DM ) markedly increases cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality risk compared to having increased BP alone . OBJECTIVE To investigate whether exercise reduces suboptimal levels of untreated suboptimal BP or treated hypertension . DESIGN Prospect i ve , r and omized controlled trial for 6 months . SETTING Single center in Baltimore , MD , USA . PATIENTS 140 participants with T2DM not requiring insulin and untreated SBP of 120–159 or DBP of 85–99 mmHg , or , if being treated for hypertension , any SBP < 159 mmHg or DBP < 99 mmHg ; 114 completed the study . INTERVENTIONS upervised exercise , 3 times per week for 6 months compared with general advice about physical activity .  MEASUREMENTS Resting SBP and DBP ( primary outcome ) ; diabetes status , arterial stiffness assessed as carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity ( PWV ) , body composition and fitness ( secondary outcomes ) . RESULTS Overall baseline BP was 126.8 ± 13.5 / 71.7 ± 9.0 mmHg , with no group differences . At 6 months , BP was unchanged from baseline in either group , BP 125.8 ± 13.2 / 70.7 ± 8.8 mmHg in controls ; and 126.0 ± 14.2 / 70.3 ± 9.0 mmHg in exercisers , despite attaining a training effects as evidence d by increased aerobic and strength fitness and lean mass and reduced fat mass ( all p < 0.05 ) , Overall baseline PWV was 959.9 ± 333.1 cm/s , with no group difference . At 6-months , PWV did not change and was not different between group ; exercisers , 923.7 ± 319.8 cm/s , 905.5 ± 344.7 , controls . LIMITATIONS A completion rate of 81 % . CONCLUSIONS Though exercisers improve fitness and body composition , there were no reductions in BP . The lack of change in arterial stiffness suggests a resistance to exercise-induced BP reduction in persons with T2DM Hypertension is one of the most common diseases seen by the practicing physician . Yet , because of noncompliance , conditions of many hypertensive patients are not effectively controlled by treatment . The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of a patient education program in reducing the blood pressure ( BP )  of hypertensive patients in a private , solo medical practice . The intervention program focused on three behavioral objectives -pill taking , appointment keeping , and dietary sodium reduction while stressing the need for taking responsibility for one 's own care . It was hypothesized that patients receiving an educational intervention stressing self-care would benefit more than those receiving the usual medical care . A substantial reduction in BP was considered to be the measure of successful treatment . Thirty-nine hypertensive patients receiving drug therapy from a private , solo medical practice were r and omized into either a treatment group or a control group . A comparison of means disclosed no pretreatment differences between the groups ' average BPs . After following up both groups for six months , mean changes in BP were compared for both treatment and control patients using a two- sample t test for independent sample s. The BP fell in the treatment group ( -13 mm Hg , systolic ; -8 mm Hg , diastolic ) but rose slightly in the control group ( 3 mm Hg , systolic 0.5 mm Hg , diastolic ) . The difference in changes was significant for both the systolic and diastolic BP
The associations between BP-lowering treatments and outcomes were not significantly different , irrespective of drug class , except for stroke and heart failure .
AND RELEVANCE Among patients with type 2 diabetes , BP lowering was associated with improved mortality and other clinical outcomes with lower RRs observed among those with baseline BP of 140 mm Hg and greater .
These findings support the use of medications for BP lowering in these patients
IMPORTANCE Lowering blood pressure ( BP ) is widely used to reduce vascular risk in individuals with diabetes .
OBJECTIVE To determine the associations between BP-lowering treatment and vascular disease in type 2 diabetes .