Cardiac implications of hypoglycaemia in patients with diabetes - a systematic review.

Background: Hypoglycaemia has been associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) risk and mortality in a number of recent multicentre trials, but the mechanistic links driving this association remain ill defined. This review aims to summarize the available data on how hypoglycaemia may affect CV risk in patients with diabetes.

Methods: This was a systematic review of available mechanistic and clinical studies on the relationship between hypoglycaemia and cardiovascular risk.

Achievement of recommended glucose and blood pressure targets in patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension in clinical practice - study rationale and protocol of DIALOGUE.

Background: Patients with type 2 diabetes have 2-4 times greater risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality than those without, and this is even further aggravated if they also suffer from hypertension. Unfortunately, less than one third of hypertensive diabetic patients meet blood pressure targets, and more than half fail to achieve target HbA1c values. Thus, appropriate blood pressure and glucose control are of utmost importance.