Nocturnal blood pressure indicates diabetes risk

When sleeping not only decreases the heart rate, but also the systolic blood pressure should decrease by at least 10% to 120/70 mmHg as possible. However, people with diabetes seem to have constant pressure in the arteries at night. This could help to detect type 2 diabetes early.

This now suggests a study of Spanish scientists with 2656 men and women. For almost six years, the researchers recorded the blood pressure of patients with a 48-hour outpatient long-term measurement at least once a year. At baseline, participants were on average 50.6 years old and had normal to elevated blood pressure.

In total, 190 subjects developed type 2 diabetes over a period of almost six years. In subjects whose systolic blood pressure dropped measurably at night, the risk of diabetes was lower, by 30%.

Antihypertensive before bedtime
And another effect, the researchers observed. Those who already treated their high blood pressure with medication and used it at bedtime reduced their risk of diabetes by 43 percent, compared to patients who swallowed the antihypertensive drugs throughout the day. (Pm)