In 1985, an assessment of arterial hypertension treatment in insulin-treated diabetic patient gave disappointing results. In 1988, we carried out another study in order to assess the impact of new antihypertensive drugs (angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and calcium antagonists) on the management of arterial hypertension and to identify patients in whom strict normal blood pressure control is mandatory. Seven hundred and fifty four patients were selected. The prevalence of arterial hypertension was 38.4 p. 100 (n = 290). Two hundred and thirty five patients (31.2 p. 100) were on antihypertensive treatment: monotherapy: 60.4 p. 100 (n = 142), bitherapy: 30.6 p. 100 (n = 72), tritherapy: 9 p. 100 (n = 21). In descending order of frequency, the following drugs were used: angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, calcium antagonists, diuretics, cardio-selective beta-blockers, central acting agents. Blood pressure values significantly decreased (148/83 mmHg, in 1988, vs 157/85 mmHg, in 1985, p less than 0.05). However, 20 p. 100 of the patients still had blood pressure values greater than or equal to 160 and/or 95 mmHg with or without antihypertensive treatment, and on average, blood pressure values remained higher in patients with antihypertensive treatment than in those without (148/83 mmHg vs 131/77 mmHg, p less than 0.001). Patients with urinary albumin excretion above or equal 30 mg/24 h compared to those with normal albuminuria had significant higher values of blood pressure, glycosylated haemoglobin and blood lipids (p less than 0.01). Only 51 p. 100 of these patients, received an antihypertensive treatment. This study emphasizes the difficulty of antihypertensive treatment in insulin-treated diabetic patients and the necessity to improve education in patients with high risk for widespread angiopathy, and particularly those with increased urinary albumin excretion.