Biomedical subjects

T Y Tai

Publications and source records attributed to T Y Tai.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed1994

Atherosclerotic risk factors for peripheral vascular disease in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate risk factors associated with peripheral vascular disease (PVD) in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). A group of 100 patients (50 men and 50 women) aged 50 years or over with PVD and another group of 200 age-sex-matched patients (100 men and 100 women) without PVD were studied. The mean +/- standard error of ages for subjects with and without PVD were 60.8 +/- 0.6 years and 59.7 +/- 0.3 years, respectively. Doppler ultrasound was used to measure the systolic pressures of the brachial, posterior tibial and dorsal pedal arteries bilaterally. The diagnosis of PVD was made by an ankle-brachial index (ABI) < 0.90 and the diagnosis of non-PVD by an ABI > 1.00. The association of PVD with diabetic duration, body mass index (BMI), cerebral infarction (CI), coronary heart disease (CHD), proteinuria, diabetic retinopathy, neuropathy, hypertension, and cigarette smoking was evaluated. In addition, biochemical data including fasting plasma glucose, hemoglobin (HD)Alc, cholesterol, triacylglycerol, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, uric acid, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) were studied. In univariate analysis, PVD was associated with an increased level of systolic blood pressure (SBP), BUN and Cr, cigarette smoking, CI, CHD, proteinuria and retinopathy. In stepwise logistic regression analysis, the level of SBP, cigarette smoking and CI remained statistically significant. The log odds of PVD could be expressed as: -2.834 + 0.013 (SBP in mmHg) + 0.577 (cigarette smoking) + 1.320 (CI). PVD is the result of aggregation of atherosclerotic risk factors; among those factors noted in this study, SBP, cigarette smoking and CI are important.

Arteriosclerosis↗

PubMed1994

Grip and pinch strength in Chinese adults and their relationship with anthropometric factors.

In this study, we evaluated the correlation of four types of hand strength (hand grip, tip pinch, palmar pinch and key pinch) with age, sex, body weight, body height, body mass index, triceps skinfold thickness, mid-arm circumference and mid-forearm circumference in a group of 437 Chinese adults (195 men and 242 women) who ranged in age from 28 to 78 years. All of the hand strengths studied correlated positively with gender, body weight, body height, mid-arm and mid-forearm circumference and negatively with age and triceps skinfold thickness in the analyses of simple correlation coefficients. Men were found to be more powerful than women in all hand strength types in different age groups. The magnitude of strength decline with age was more prominent in grip strength than pinch strength including palmar, tip and key. Stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that sex, age and mid-forearm circumference were most predictive of all types of hand strength. Body height was an additional independent predictor of grip and palmar pinch. Body mass index, body weight, mid-arm circumference and triceps skinfold thickness were not independent predictors associated with hand strength.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Ten-year clinical analysis of diabetic leg amputees.

The clinical characteristics of 234 amputees admitted to the National Taiwan University Hospital during a 10-year period were analyzed. Diabetes mellitus accounted for 37.2% (87 cases) of the amputations and was the most commonly associated disease. Malignancy was the second cause of amputation (16.2%). Traffic accidents and atherosclerosis (without diabetes mellitus) each accounted for about 13% of the amputations. Below-knee amputation was the most commonly performed procedure among the diabetics, while above-knee, below-knee and ray amputations were roughly equally performed among non-diabetic patients. Reamputations were done in 16 diabetic and 12 non-diabetic patients, mostly within a short period of time after the first amputation. Four of the diabetic reamputations and nine of the non-diabetic reamputations were performed on the same side as the first amputation. The mean +/- standard error of admission days and total expenses for each episode of amputation were 36.2 +/- 2.7 days and 116.5 +/- 1.7 thousand New Taiwan dollars for the non-diabetics and 41.3 +/- 4.0 days and 134.0 +/- 16.0 thousand New Taiwan dollars for the diabetics, respectively. We concluded that: 1) diabetes mellitus was the main cause of amputation; 2) diabetes mellitus was associated with a higher rate of reamputations of the contralateral legs; and 3) a multidisciplinary foot-care team is essential for the management of lower leg amputations.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Development of macrovascular diseases in NIDDM patients in northern Taiwan. A 4-yr follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the development of macrovascular diseases and explore major associative factors in NIDDM. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 479 NIDDM patients > or = 40 yr of age were recruited from four community primary care health centers of northern Taiwan in July 1986 for a cohort study with a 4-yr follow-up. No patient required insulin therapy within 1 yr of diagnosis nor had a history of diabetic ketoacidosis. All were able to participate independently in the activities of daily living. BP and ECG were measured, and a structured questionnaire was asked of each patient. Venous blood after overnight fasting was collected every year to measure cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, plasma glucose, and HbA1c. RESULTS: The duration of diabetes was associated with the development of stroke with a relative risk of 1.063 for every 1-yr increment (P = 0.07). As for HVDs, the significant risk factors were serum cholesterol and HbA1c. For every 1-mg/dl increase in mean total cholesterol level, the relative risk of developing HVD increased 1.016-fold (P = 0.04). For every 1% increase in HbA1c, the relative risk of developing HVD increased 1.170-fold (P = 0.01). With regard to leg VDs, sex and cigarette smoking were significant risk factors. Women diabetic subjects had a higher relative risk than men. Cigarette smoking was significantly associated with leg VD with a relative risk of 6.9 for smokers compared with nonsmokers. The most significant risk factor for LVD was the total cholesterol level. For every 1-mg/dl increase in mean serum cholesterol level, the relative risk of LVD increased 1.013-fold. CONCLUSIONS: In the prevention of macrovascular diseases, effective intervention of the nondiabetic cardiovascular risk factors may be as important as or even more important than the good control of diabetes.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Nesidiodysplasia: an unusual cause of hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia in adults.

Herein, we report two cases of pancreatic nesidiodysplasia, an extremely rare cause of hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia in adults. The first case was a 43-year-old, nonobese female with recurrent hypoglycemia after 10% distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy performed 16 years previously for insulinoma. Three suspect tumors were found on the preoperative angiograms and second operation, but the pathologic finding revealed diffusely scattered microscopic nodules with a background of nesidiodysplasia. The second case was a 52-year-old female with a five-year history of hypoglycemia. Extensive diagnostic procedures revealed a suspect insulinoma over the pancreatic body. The histology confirmed diffuse nesidiodysplasia. Both cases were diagnosed as insulinoma before surgical intervention because of the hypoglycemic symptoms, high insulin/glucose ratio and the positive image studies. The pathologic findings were characterized by the budding of islet cells from the pancreatic duct epithelium with diffuse islet hyperplasia. Both patients remained well after 75% to 80% pancreatectomy with no recurrence of hypoglycemia. The etiology, pathology, preoperative work-up, and operative strategy of nesidiodysplasia are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and its relation to renal dysfunction.

To investigate the relationship between cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy and nephropathy in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), 45 patients underwent noninvasive cardiovascular reflex tests, including the Valsalva ratio, the 30:15 ratio and postural changes in systolic blood pressure (delta SBP), along with measurement of creatinine clearance (CCr) and daily protein excretion (DPE). Clinical symptoms in 30 patients were also noted and correlated with the results of the autonomic function tests. Thirty-four normal subjects underwent the same cardiovascular reflex tests and served as controls. The results showed that NIDDM patients had a significantly lower 30:15 ratio than normal subjects. However, no significant difference in either the Valsalva ratio or delta SBP was found between diabetic patients and controls. A positive correlation between the 30:15 ratio and CCr, but not DPE, was noted in diabetics. Although abnormal cardiovascular reflex tests appeared in patients who had no autonomic symptoms, abnormal test results were not parallel with the severity of symptoms. These results show that NIDDM patients have poorer cardiovascular autonomic function which may precede the appearance of autonomic symptoms. The 30:15 ratio was weakly correlated with CCr and this suggests that the incidence of cardiovascular dysfunction increases as the renal functional reserve decreases.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Prevalence and risk factors of diabetic retinopathy among noninsulin-dependent diabetic subjects.

In a population-based study in Taiwan, 11,478 subjects aged 40 years or older were screened for diabetes in one urban and five rural areas. Among the 715 subjects proven to have diabetes, 527 subjects underwent ophthalmoscopy. Diabetic retinopathy was present in 184 of the 527 subjects (35.0%), including background diabetic retinopathy in 157 subjects (30.0%), preproliferative diabetic retinopathy in 15 subjects (2.8%), and proliferative diabetic retinopathy in 12 subjects (2.2%). Diabetic retinopathy was correlated with the duration of diabetes and age at onset of diabetes, type of diabetes treatment, higher serum creatinine levels, and lower serum cholesterol levels. Several other factors, including gender, age, residential area, family income, educational level, control and family history of diabetes, body mass index, physical activity, exercise, cigarette smoking, stroke, ischemic heart disease, leg vessel disease, hypertension, and proteinuria, had no significant association with retinopathy. By multiple logistic regression analysis, duration of diabetes was the most important risk factor related to retinopathy. Diabetic subjects treated with insulin had a higher risk of developing retinopathy than those treated with dietary control (relative risk, 1.57; .05 < P < .10). The univariate analysis disclosed that proliferative diabetic retinopathy was related to older age at examination, older age at onset of diabetes, type of diabetes treatment, and presence of leg vessel disease. Insulin-treated diabetic subjects also had a higher risk of proliferative diabetic retinopathy than patients in whom diabetes was controlled by diet, with a relative risk of 2.51 (.05 < P < .10) in the multiple logistic regression analysis.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

The effect of oral buflomedil on microalbuminuria in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients.

A total of 26 non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients were enrolled for a clinical study of the effect of buflomedil on microalbuminuria. None of the subjects had hypertension or macroproteinuria. Sixteen cases without previously known urinary albumin excretion rate (AER) were enrolled as experimental group. Buflomedil (Loftyl) was administered orally 600 mg daily in two divided doses in the experimental group while AER was determined 3 times with 3 weeks apart in all of the subjects. Ten cases with known microalbuminuria (greater than 8.55 micrograms/min) were enrolled as control group to check the extent of fluctuation in AER from collection to collection in the absence of urinary tract infection. Six of the experimental group showed AER of microalbuminuric level at the time before buflomedil administration and the remaining 10 patients were normoalbuminuric. The effects of buflomedil were compared between the microalbuminuric and normoalbuminuric subjects in the experimental group. The microalbuminuric group showed a significant decrease of AER from a baseline of 30.4 micrograms/min to 19.8 and 16.8 micrograms/min, respectively, after 3 and 6 weeks of treatment (P less than 0.05, Friedman two-way ANOVA). However, the respective values in the normoalbuminuric group were 5.3, 5.6 and 5.0 micrograms/min (P greater than 0.05, Friedman two-way ANOVA). The AER in the control group remained stationary during the study period (14.0, 12.1 and 11.4, respectively, Friedman two-way ANOVA, P greater than 0.05). These results suggest that buflomedil might be beneficial for the patients with microalbuminuria.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Association of body build with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and hypertension among Chinese adults: a 4-year follow-up study.

Both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies on the association of body build with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and hypertension were conducted in Taiwan during the period 1986-1990. The cross-sectional study, was carried out in 1986 in Ta-An District of Taipei City and five rural areas evenly distributed in Taiwan Province. A total of 11,478 randomly selected subjects aged 40 years or over were surveyed. World Health Organization designations of diabetes and hypertension were followed. The longitudinal observation was made in 1990 for the cohort living in Taipei City who had neither diabetes nor hypertension in 1986. Of 2822 subjects, 1873 individuals participated in the follow-up study and 52 had died, giving a response rate of 67.6%. In comparison with Caucasian or Polynesian populations, Chinese adults have a much lower prevalence of obesity (body mass index [BMI] greater than 30 kg/m2). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed both diabetes and hypertension increased as body build became heavier. The age-adjusted prevalence ratio and relative risk for the fourth quartile of BMI compared to the first quartile were 2.72 and 2.87, respectively, for diabetes as well as 2.96 and 2.24, respectively, for hypertension. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed a slightly higher increase in prevalence of hypertension than that of diabetes for every 1 kg/m2 increase in BMI (1.16-fold and 1.12-fold, respectively), while a similar increase in BMI resulted in a slightly higher relative risk of diabetes than that of hypertension (1.14-fold and 1.11-fold, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Inhibitory effect of islet amyloid polypeptide of glucose-induced proinsulin biosynthesis in rat insulinoma cells.

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) has been recently identified as the principal constituent of amyloid deposits in pancreatic islets of patients with type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus and causes insulin resistance in some target cells. In addition, glucose-induced insulin secretion is inhibited by IAPP. We studied the effect of IAPP on proinsulin biosynthesis in rat insulinoma (RINr) cells. Glucose at concentrations of 0, 15, 30, 60, 100, and 300 mg/dl stimulated proinsulin biosynthesis in a dose-responsive and and actino-mycin D-inhibitable manner after 6 h of incubation. At a glucose concentration of 300 mg/dl, IAPP decreased the mean responses of proinsulin biosynthesis to 61.2 and 29% at concentrations of 0.1 and 1 microM, respectively, compared with the IAPP-free control. In conclusion, IAPP inhibits glucose-induced proinsulin biosynthesis in RINr cells. IAPP might play an important role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Amyloid↗

PubMed1992

Therapeutic effect of guar gum in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Diets with a high-fiber content have been shown to produce some beneficial effects on metabolic factors in subjects with NIDDM. However, some controversies still exist. In this report, the long-term effect of guar gum (Guarina) on both glycemic and blood lipid profiles was assessed in a randomized, double-blind and cross-over study on 16 (seven male and nine female) subjects with NIDDM. Each subject received placebo (P) and Guarina (G) treatment for two eight-week periods separated by a four-week period to facilitate wash-out. Fasting plasma glucose levels showed significant improvement during G treatment but not during P treatment (151.7 +/- 7.9 vs 168.6 +/- 12.2 mg/dl, p less than 0.01 by paired Student's t test). Hemoglobin Alc levels decreased significantly during G treatment but not during P treatment (6.9 +/- 0.2 vs 7.2 +/- 0.8%, p less than 0.001). Fasting insulin concentrations also showed significant lowering during G treatment but not during P treatment (18.3 +/- 2.1 vs 23.1 +/- 2.9 U/ml, p less than 0.005). Other variables, including serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDLc, LDLc, sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium and calcium levels showed no significant changes during G or P treatment. Ten out of the 16 patients (62.5%) suffered from side effects; these included abdominal cramps (one case), diarrhea (seven cases) and skin itching (one case). In conclusion, guar gum effectively lowers fasting plasma glucose and HbAlc levels in subjects with NIDDM. Hyperinsulinemia could also be ameliorated. The effectiveness and side effects of guar gum treatment should be cautiously evaluated in each NIDDM subject.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Effect of tocopherol on platelet aggregation in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: ex vivo and in vitro studies.

Tocopherol has been shown to have antiplatelet effects in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. However, its antiplatelet effect in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) remains to be established. In this report, the antiplatelet effect of tocopherol was assessed in a randomized, double-blind and crossover study of 15 NIDDM subjects. Each subject received tocopherol (dl-alpha-tocopherol nicotinate, 200 mg, tid) and a placebo for two six-week treatment periods separated by a three-week period in between for wash-out. The mechanisms of the antiplatelet effect of tocopherol were also studied in vitro. A significant decrease in platelet reactivity was observed after tocopherol treatment as compared with the pretest, and the magnitude of the decrease during tocopherol treatment was significantly evident when compared with that of the placebo treatment, as assessed by collagen (5, 10 micrograms/mL)-induced platelet aggregation of whole blood. A dose-dependent reduction in both ADP-and collagen-induced platelet aggregation was observed with tocopherol from 0.1 to 3.0 mM in vitro. No corresponding changes in ATP secretion and thromboxane synthesis were observed. Tocopherol also significantly inhibited fibrinogen-induced aggregation of elastase-treated platelets at a concentration of 0.1 mM. We demonstrated that platelet aggregation of whole blood ex vivo, among 15 NIDDM subjects was suppressed in tocopherol treatment, so tocopherol may have an antiplatelet effect in NIDDM subjects. The inhibitory effect of the platelet aggregation of tocopherol may be partially accomplished through interference with fibrinogen binding towards its receptor.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Urinary kallikrein excretion in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

To investigate the status of urinary kallikrein excretion (UKE) in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), we measured UKE in 31 NIDDM patients. They ranged in age from 40 to 70 years (mean, 54.3 +/- 7.8 years), comprising 18 males and 13 females. Their creatinine clearance (Ccr) was 91.6 +/- 5.5 mL/min, and the daily excretion rate of protein was 1.15 +/- 0.72 g/24 hours. Twenty-five normal persons, aged from 37 to 63 years (mean, 51.7 +/- 8.2 years), comprising 14 males and 11 females, were enrolled as controls. The NIDDM patients were further divided into two groups. Group A (n = 21) had regular blood sugar control, while Group B (n = 9) had poor blood sugar control. The autonomic nervous function was tested in 15 patients to study its relationship with UKE. UKE was measured by spectrophotometric assay of the kallikrein enzymatic product on the synthetic substrate S-2266. Autonomic function was evaluated by cardiovascular reflex tests. The results showed that UKE was elevated in Group B, but depressed in Group A (normal vs A vs B: 9.6 +/- 1.0 vs 4.8 +/- 0.9 vs 14.4 +/- 2.7 nkat/24 hours). The UKE/Ccr ratio was similarly elevated in Group B and reduced in Group A (normal vs A vs B: 0.1 +/- 0.01 vs 0.05 +/- 0.01 vs 0.18 +/- 0.04 nkat. mL/day.minute). There was no significant correlation between UKE or the UKE/Ccr ratio and the Valsalva ratio, the 30:15 ratio, or postural blood pressure change. These results suggest that NIDDM patients have abnormal urinary kallikrein excretion levels that are influenced by blood sugar control. The abnormal UKE/Ccr ratio suggests that intrarenal abnormality in the renal kallikrein-kinin system exists in NIDDM patients.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Risk factors for hyperinsulinemia in chlorpropamide-treated diabetic patients: a three-year follow-up.

To elucidate the presence of chronic hyperinsulinemia and its relation to clinical and biochemical parameters, 112 (53 females and 59 males) Chinese non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients under chlorpropamide therapy were closely monitored for three years. Clinical and biochemical risk factors for chronic hyperinsulinemia were studied by regular monitoring of body weight, fasting insulin levels and various biochemical data. Chronic hyperinsulinemia was defined as a mean fasting level over 20 microU/mL (highest level observed in 35 non-diabetics). Among 112 diabetics, 52 cases (46.4%) showed chronic hyperinsulinemia. From simple linear regression analysis, female gender, high BMI and elevated triglyceride and uric acid levels were correlated with insulin levels (p < 0.05). The presence of diabetic complications (retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy) and the degree of glycemic control were not significantly different between the normoinsulinemic and hyperinsulinemic groups. In conclusion, 1) NIDDM patients treated with chlorpropamide showed higher fasting insulin levels with 46.4% of them meeting the criteria for chronic hyperinsulinemia; 2) female gender, uric acid, BMI and triglyceride were the risk factors correlated with chronic hyperinsulinemia; and 3) the presence of diabetic complications and diabetic control correlated poorly with chronic hyperinsulinemia.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Plasma prorenin and renin levels in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

To investigate plasma renin and prorenin levels in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and their relation with autonomic nervous function and renal impairment, we measured plasma renin and prorenin levels in 39 NIDDM patients. The patients included 21 males and 18 females, aged 56.3 +/- 6.2. Thirty-four normal age-matched subjects served as controls. Autonomic nervous function was evaluated in 23 patients by the performance of cardiovascular reflex tests. The plasma renin concentration was measured by angiotensin I generation after the addition of an exogenous substrate. Plasma prorenin was activated by trypsin. The results showed that the plasma renin concentration was similar between NIDDM patients and normal subjects, while plasma prorenin was higher in NIDDM patients. No correlation existed between the plasma renin or prorenin levels and autonomic nervous function. The patients with abnormally high levels of prorenin also had a similarly high plasma renin level but not a high creatinine clearance (Ccr) or daily proteinuria. The plasma renin level was correlated inversely with daily proteinuria but not with Ccr. These results suggest that the high plasma prorenin levels in some diabetic patients cannot be explained by renal impairment, poor prorenin conversion or autonomic dysfunction. The hyporeninemia in some patients may be related to microvascular involvement of the kidney.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Bedtime intermediate-acting insulin in the treatment of secondary failure to oral hypoglycemic agents.

Low-dose bedtime insulin therapy in combination with oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) has become an alternative treatment for NIDDM subjects with secondary failure to OHA. To assess its clinical efficacy, patient compliance, and its possible side effects, 33 patients with secondary OHA failure were recruited in this study. All of the subjects had experienced poor glycemic control for at least six months on their maximal OHAs before the institution of the bedtime insulin injection. Monotard HM (human insulin zinc suspension) was given at an initial dose of 0.15-0.2 U/kg body weight and was adjusted thereafter. As a whole, low-dose bedtime insulin with OHAs improved glycemic control. According to the clinical response, 10 patients (30.3%) were graded as responders, 12 (36.4%) were partial responders, 10 (30.3%) were non-responders, and one (3%) discontinued insulin therapy. There was no difference in demographic features among these three groups of patients. During this period, eight (25%) cases experienced mild hypoglycemic symptoms. In conclusion, combination of OHAs with a low-dose bedtime insulin injection is an alternative therapy for NIDDM patients with OHA failure.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2↗

PubMed1991

Esterase D and retinoblastoma gene loci are tightly linked to Wilson's disease in Chinese pedigrees from Taiwan.

Wilson's disease (WD) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder and has been mapped to the long arm of chromosome 13 (q14.1). We have analyzed the segregation of esterase D (ESD) and retinoblastoma (RB) gene loci in ten families of Chinese WD subjects living in Taiwan. The polymorphic information content (PIC) for ESD and RB was 0.18 and 0.31, respectively. We confirmed a tight linkage between these loci and WD with a lod score of 3.33 by multipoint linkage analysis. The data from this limited number of pedigrees also suggested the following order: centromere-WD-RB-ESD or centromere-ESD-RB-WD. ESD in conjunction with RB polymorphism would be useful in prenatal and presymptomatic diagnosis, as well as in carrier detection in informative pedigrees.

Alleles↗

PubMed1991

Link between hypertension and diabetes mellitus epidemiological study of Chinese adults in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the relationship between hypertension and non-insulin-dependent diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The study consisted of a random sample of adults aged greater than or equal to 40 yr from the Ta-An district of Taipei City and 5 of 12 villages of Taiwan province, which had established primary health-care centers since 1984. A total of 11,478 subjects were recruited into the survey with a response rate of 65.3 and 72%, respectively. Blood glucose and blood pressure levels were measured, and a structured questionnaire was given to each participant. Those identified as having diabetes received further blood tests for lipids and creatinine and were evaluated for vascular complications. RESULTS: The age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of hypertension among diabetic subjects was twice that of nondiabetic subjects (30.6 vs. 16.4%, P less than 0.0005). Hypertensive subjects had a higher prevalence of diabetes than normotensive subjects (10.2 vs. 4.9%, P less than 0.0005). Among hypertensive subjects, the prevalence of diabetes was 12.7% for those taking antihypertensive drugs and 9.1% for those not taking any drug (P less than 0.05). The prevalence of diabetes significantly increased as mean arterial pressure rose, whether the subjects were stratified by various factors. Multiple regression analysis, including sex, age, body mass index, and other risk factors as independent variables, also showed a significant association between diabetes and hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: The univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that there seemed to be a tight link between hypertension and non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Family history of diabetes, diabetes duration, diabetes regimen, control of blood glucose, and the presence of nephropathy, as attested by proteinuria, did not contribute to the risk of hypertension. Further studies are necessary to determine whether these two conditions are causally related.

Adult↗