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Previous studies have shown a small but significant increase in incidence of type 2 diabetes in patients with hypertension treated with thiazide diuretics. In an industry-supported study, investigators conducted two double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trials comparing the effects of a thiazide diuretic versus a beta-blocker and of a potassium-sparing diuretic versus hydrochlorothiazide on oral glucose tolerance in patients with essential hypertension.
In the first trial, 41 patients had a significant increase in blood glucose during a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) after 4 weeks of bendroflumethiazide treatment, but not after 4 weeks of atenolol treatment. In the second trial, 37 patients received, in random order, 4 weeks…