Blood pressure in a population of diabetic persons diagnosed after 30 years of age.

Blood pressure levels were investigated in a population of diabetic persons who were diagnosed at 30 years of age or older and who received their primary medical care in an 11-county area in Southern Wisconsin. Prevalence of hypertension in these 5,104 persons was compared with prevalence figures from the Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HANES) population. Diabetic women had a higher prevalence of hypertension until 65 years of age than did women of similar ages in the HANES. The diabetic males had a prevalence of hypertension similar to that of male HANES participants. Mean systolic blood pressures tended to be slightly higher in persons with "poorest" level of glucose control compared to those whose blood glucose was "best" controlled. Persons for whom diuretic agents had been prescribed were as likely to have blood glucose values in the "poorest" levels of control as persons not using diuretics.