This randomized, double-blind, parallel group, two-centre pilot study will test the hypothesis that subjects who are otherwise healthy but fulfill the criteria for a diagnosis of pre-hypertension and pre-diabetes will have regression or reduced progression of hypertension-associated changes in their resistance arteries if their blood pressure is controlled for 6 months with losartan, whereas similar subjects whose blood pressure is equally well controlled using hydrochlorothiazide will have significantly less improvement of the changes in their resistance arteries.