Calcium channel blockers (CCB), a class of blood pressure medication, has a hindsight benefit that may slow the progression of beta cell death.

At the time that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was reviewing studies of the drug for approval it was not reviewing the effect it had onTXNIP. TXNIP is a protein that signals the body to kill beta cells when glucose levels are too high.

In light of this discovery, it is shown that the lack of TXNIP protects beta-cells against beta cell death. About 70% of patients with diabetes have high blood pressure. Perhaps CCBs will become the first choice in blood pressure medications for people with diabetes?

Examples of calcium channel blockers are: Sular, Adalat, Procardia, Cardene, Dynacirc, Nimotop, Plendil, Norvasc, Cardizem, and Calan or Isoptin.

The sophistication of this research is detailed. The current issue of Diabetes Care explains the research findings. However if you’d like to learn more about it checkout the article on Science Daily.

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