What is the best blood pressure medication for diabetics?

There is no single best medication for high blood pressure in diabetes, but some medications are safer than others for certain groups of people with diabetes. In some cases, more than one medication is needed.

Current guidelines from the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommend that anyone with diabetes and a blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or higher but less than 160/100 should be started on one blood pressure medication. There are several options for this medication for people with diabetes (without the presence of kidney disease), including drugs called:

• ACE inhibitors (ACEi)
• Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB)
• Thiazide-like diuretics
• Calcium channel blockers (CCB)

The ADA recommends that people with diabetes and kidney disease in this blood pressure category stick to either ACE inhibitors or ARBs.

If someone with diabetes has a blood pressure of 160/100 or higher, any two blood pressure medications may be started from these three groupings of drugs:

• ACEi or ARB
• Thiazide diuretic
• CCB

The ADA recommends that people with kidney disease in this blood pressure category take an ACEi or ARB, plus either a diuretic or CCB.

If blood pressure is still hard to manage, a third drug from the list may be added.

The goal of blood pressure treatment is to bring your blood pressure down. How much depends on your risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). If your doctor feels that the risk is high, the blood pressure target may be 130/80. For patients at lower CVD risk, the target may be 140/90.

No matter what drugs are used, lifestyle changes are an important part of treatment. These changes include:

1. Weight loss
2. Low-salt diet
3. Limited alcohol
4. Increased physical activity

High blood pressure is common in people with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes does not cause high blood pressure and high blood pressure does not cause diabetes, but they often occur together. This is called comorbidity.

Studies show that about two-thirds of people with diabetes have high blood pressure. Diabetes is a risk factor for heart and blood vessel disease. Having both diabetes and high blood pressure increases your risk of CVD, heart disease and stroke. So, it is important to treat high blood pressure in people with diabetes to lower CVD risk.

Related questions

• What is the safest diabetes medication?
• What foods should I eat or avoid for hypoglycemia?
• Can you have hypoglycemia without diabetes?

Read next

See also:

Related medical questions

• What is the connection between the endocrine system and osteoporosis?
• Which type of insulin has the longest duration of action?
• Why am I not losing weight on Mounjaro?
• What are the long-term side effects of Ozempic?
• How long does metformin take to work?
• Mounjaro side effects you need to be aware of
• How long does it take for Ozempic to work?
• Wegovy vs Ozempic: Which is Right for You?
• When is the best time to take metformin?
• How many doses are in an Ozempic pen?
• What is A1C? Normal vs dangerous levels, and how to lower It
• Tirzepatide vs semaglutide: How do they compare?
• Do Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro & Zepbound cause hair loss?
• What happens when you stop taking Ozempic?
• Can you switch between Ozempic and Mounjaro?
• Does Ozempic need to be refrigerated?
• Why does metformin cause diarrhea?
• Saxenda vs Ozempic: For Weight Loss?
• Will my insurance cover the cost of Ozempic?
• How does Mounjaro Work for Weight Loss?
• Can you get tirzepatide from a compounding pharmacy?
• Is Mounjaro covered by insurance or Medicare?
• Can you buy Ozempic over the counter?

Related support groups

• Diabetes, Type 2 (502 questions, 1,428 members)

Medical Disclaimer