Drug May Help Protect Kidneys in Diabetes

A blood pressure drug may also help to fend off kidney problems for diabetics, new research suggests. Having diabetes increases the risk of developing kidney disease. One of the first signs is a small amount of protein in the urine. This is called microalbuminuria. The study included 4,447 people with type 2 diabetes. They did not have microalbuminuria when the study began. They were randomly assigned to take either a placebo or olmesartan (Benicar). This drug is called an angiotensin receptor blocker. It is used to lower blood pressure. Researchers kept track of people for 3 years. In that time, 8.2% of those taking olmesartan developed protein in the urine. The rate was 9.8% for those taking placebo pills. People taking the real drug also tended to develop the problem later. Their median time was 24 months, compared with 19 months for people taking the placebo.