Lifestyle Changes in Patients With Type 2 DM and Hypertension: DASH Diet and Exercise Effects

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of changes in lifestyle on blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Secondary objectives are: Assess whether the prescription of a DASH-type diet and encouragement for physical activity through use of pedometers, can improve blood pressure control in patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension resistant to treatment.

Forty type 2 diabetic with resistant hypertension outpatients were included in a randomized clinical trial: treatment 1- DASH diet + encouragement for physical activity through use of pedometer; treatment 2- ADA diet + usual exercises. The duration of each treatment are four weeks. The patients included should have performed Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) to exclude white-coat effect, ie when there are abnormal in the measurement of office blood pressure (equal to or above 140/90 mm Hg) and normal blood pressure by ABPM during the awake period (equal to or below 135/85 mm Hg). Twenty-four hour records with concurrent 24h urinary collections (protein intake estimative), clinical and laboratory evaluation were performed at baseline and after 4 weeks. Serum fatty acids were measured in total lipids by gas chromatography.