Summary
In a single blind randomized study the effects of a 4-week administration of propranolol (160 mg/day) and penbutolol (40 mg/day) on metabolic control and insulin-induced hypoglycemia were tested in 8 non-insulin-dependent diabetics with diastolic blood pressure between 95 and 110 mmHg. The recovery from hypoglycemia was not delayed by either drug; hypoglycemic nadir and Conard’sK did not change significantly. Symptoms of hypoglycemia were inhibited to a lesser extent and pulse rate decrease was lower after penbutololvs baseline (65±2.4vs 77±2.4 beats/min, p<0.01) than after propranololvs baseline (61±1.06vs 77±2.4 beats/min p<0.001). Both drugs produced similar and significant effects on blood pressure both systolic and diastolic. There were no significant effects on fasting plasma glucose concentration, HbAtc, IRI, urinary C-peptide, triglycerides, total and HDL cholesterol and FFA. IRG decreased after penbutololvs baseline 60 min after insulin injection (170±30.8vs 125±15.4 pmol/l, p<0.05). These results indicate that the use of beta-blockers, in particular penbutolol, for mild to moderate hypertension may be considered the treatment of choice also in non-insulin-dependent diabetics at the therapeutic doses employed.
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Marengo, C., Marena, S., Renzetti, A. et al. Beta-blockers in hypertensive non-insulin-dependent diabetics: Comparison between penbutolol and propranolol on metabolic control and response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia. Acta diabet. lat 25, 141–148 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02581378
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02581378