Relationship Between the Hypertension Stage and Hemoglobin A1c in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Background: It is now suggested that the hypertensive state in diabetic patients may be associated with the level of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). In line with this hypothesis, we aimed to compare the level of HbA1c in diabetic patients with and without hypertension to determine whether or not there is a correlation between HbA1c and the hypertension stage. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in collaboration with the Physiology Research Center at Kerman University of Medical Sciences on 563 patients with type 2 diabetes. HbA1c was measured via the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique. Hypertension was staged as normal, prehypertension, hypertension stage 1, or hypertension stage 2. Results: We found no difference in the mean fasting blood glucose level and the mean HbA1c level between the different subgroups of hypertension stages; hence, the degree of hypertension was not associated with diabetes control status. The value of HbA1c was correlated with neither systolic blood pressure (P = 0.800) nor diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.215). We also failed to show any significant relationship between the intensity of physical activity and the HbA1c level (P = 0.517). Our multivariable linear regression model revealed that opium addiction was the only determinant significantly correlated with HbA1c (P = 0.038). Conclusions: We showed no difference in the level of HbA1c between diabetic patients with and without hypertension. It appears that the degree of hypertension in such patients may not be associated with diabetes control status.