Blood pressure levels in diabetes mellitus

Levels of fasting plasma glucose, body mass index, serum total lipids, serum total cholesterol, serum triglycerides and blood pressure of 177 Libyan diabetic patients were determined. The respective mean values were 212.4 +/- 5.6 mg/dl, 26.6 +/- 0.45 kg/m2, 825.7 +/- 20.5 mg/dl, 176.4 mg/dl, 144 +/- 5.8 mg/dl and 135.3 +/- 1.7/83 +/- 0.89 mm Hg. The mean levels of all variables except plasma glucose are significantly higher in the female patients than their male counterparts. Correlations were present between blood pressure levels and age/body mass index/serum total lipids. There was a significant correlation between systolic pressure levels and the duration of diabetes. Serum cholesterol and serum triglyceride levels correlated with diastolic blood pressure levels only.