[Increased blood pressure during hypoglycemia in patients with IDDM]

34 patients with IDDM (17 normotensive and 17 hypertensive) were studied over a 24 hour period by monitoring blood glucose level at 1 h frequencies during waking hours, ambulatory blood pressure using the accutracker and urinary free catecholamine by HPLC. Hypoglycemia appeared to lead to elevated blood pressure in 4 patients (23.5%) both normotensive and hypertensive. The average blood glucose levels were 2.4 +/- 0.72mmol/L and 3.3 +/- 0.62mmol/L, and the average blood pressure increase was 2.53 +/- 1.43/1.60 +/- 1.65 kPa and 4.66 +/- 2.60/1.73 +/- 1.55 kPa for normotensive and hypertensive groups, respectively. Significant difference appeared (P < 0.05) between the two groups (normotensive and hypertensive). This shows that hypertensive patients with IDDM are more liable to have high blood pressure. This study suggested that stable blood glucose level is necessary for stable blood pressure for patients with IDDM.