ABSTRACT
Postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes mellitus have a high risk of cardiovascular
disease. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with estrogens with or without progestagens
relieves many climacteric symptoms. Although hormone replacement in theory could have
beneficial effects on cardiovascular morbidity, to date no randomized controlled clinical
trial has shown positive results in this regard. There are few data with respect to
diabetic postmenopausal women.
There is no basis for prescription of HRT to diabetic women if the aim is to lower
cardiovascular morbidity. On the other hand, there is also no reason not to prescribe
HRT to diabetic women to treat climacteric symptoms.
KEYWORDS
Hormone replacement therapy - diabetes mellitus - cardiovascular risk profile - postmenopausal
women