Hyperinsulinemia and hypertension in patients with newly diagnosed non-insulin-dependent diabetes.

An increased occurrence of hypertension was observed in a group of patients (N = 133) with newly diagnosed non-insulin-dependent diabetes as compared to non-diabetic control subjects (N = 144). In men the excessive occurrence of hypertension in diabetics seemed to be mainly confined to obese subjects, whereas in women it occurred both in obese and non-obese subjects. Fasting or postglucose serum insulin levels showed a positive correlation with blood pressure levels in non-diabetic men and in diabetic and non-diabetic women even after adjustment of insulin for obesity.