Hypertension in Diabetic Patients and Differences Between Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus and Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

In insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), BP levels in subjects with normal or only mildly increased levels of albumin excretion do not differ systematically from those in non-diabetic reference populations. However, it is not known whether increased albuminuria and raised blood pressure are causally related. Several studies have observed higher average BP levels in glucose-intolerant subjects, even allowing for effects of age and adiposity. This applies to subjects with glucose intolerance below and above the World Health Organization criteria for diagnosing non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). However, there are very few satisfactory studies comparing established patients with NIDDM with appropriate reference populations, and although it is widely believed that high BP (or hypertension) is a feature of NIDDM, the evidence for this belief is scant. In insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), BP levels in subjects with normal or only mildly increased levels of albumin excretion do not differ systematically from those in non-diabetic reference populations. However, it is not known whether increased albuminuria and raised blood pressure are causally related. Several studies have observed higher average BP levels in glucose-intolerant subjects, even allowing for effects of age and adiposity. This applies to subjects with glucose intolerance below and above the World Health Organization criteria for diagnosing non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). However, there are very few satisfactory studies comparing established patients with NIDDM with appropriate reference populations, and although it is widely believed that high BP (or hypertension) is a feature of NIDDM, the evidence for this belief is scant.