The role of glucose-lowering drugs in blood pressure control in patients with type 2diabetes mellitus
Various factors contribute the development of cardiovascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2): hyperglycemia and components of insulin resistance syndrome, including obesity, dyslipidemia and arterial hypertension. All of them should be considered in therapeutic strategies. In the beginning of 21 <sup>st</sup> century new pharmacological agents were developed leading to the major changes DM2 treatment. So, an ideal treatment should have not only a glucose-lowering effect, but other (“non-glycemic”) actions affecting multiple coexistent factors. Since the novel classes of antidiabetic drugs with additional favorable pleiotropic effects independent from direct glucose-lowering effect have been introduced, the choice of an appropriate agent has become more complicated and requires individual approach and wide knowledge in this area. The present articles reviews various groups glucose-lowering agents and their effects on blood pressure level in DM2 patients. We believe it will can help to make the right individual choice of an antidiabetic agent taking into account its pleiotropic effects.