ACE Inhibitors and Insulin Resistance

Essential hypertension is mostly part of the more comprehensive metabolic syndrome. Insulin resistance is discussed here as a fundamental disorder. The symptoms of the metabolic syndrome such as increased insulin levels, sugar metabolism disorders and fat metabolism disorders are in turn CHD risk factors. A hypertension treatment that lowers blood pressure but at the same time increases insulin resistance can therefore lead to a stronger development of other risk factors. The targeted reduction of the CHD risk is then not guaranteed. ACE inhibitors effectively lower blood pressure and improve insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscles. Insulin resistance is reduced.