Diabetes and hypertension: Is double therapy useful?

Diabetes and hypertension are the "bad companions" and each is more common together in the same patient than separately in the general population. Both are risk factors for cardiovascular disease and mortality, and, when both are present, these risks are additive. Fortunately, each is amenable to treatment and double therapy is particularly useful because a more intensive glucose- lowering therapy is especially successful in protecting against microvascular disease, while blood pressure-lowering therapy is highly effective in protecting against major cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, and in lowering mortality. Furthermore, there is convincing evidence that the two therapies are either additive or at least complementary. Therefore, in answer to the question "is double therapy useful?" we can confidently reply-"Yes, not only useful, but mandatory!".