Diabetes, high blood pressure combo puts more Americans at risk
Twice as many Americans now face the increased risk of death that comes from having both high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, a new study reports.
About 12% of the U.S. population had high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes at the same time in 2018, up from 6% in 1999, researchers reported recently in the journal Diabetes Care.
Having both conditions more than doubled the risk of dying from any cause and tripled the risk of death from heart disease, compared to those without either condition, researchers found.
"Even having co-existing prediabetes and elevated blood pressure was associated with up to 19% higher mortality risk, compared to having neither or either of these risk states," said senior researcher Nour Makarem, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health.
"This suggests that the increase in risk of dying commences before levels of blood glucose and blood pressure progress to Type 2 diabetes and hypertension," she said in a news release.
For the study, researchers analyzed data for nearly 49,000 adults who participated in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2018. Conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, the survey includes health exams and lab tests to check the health of participants.
"A striking finding is that the burden of co-existing hypertension and type 2 diabetes nearly doubled over the study period," Makarem said. "Overall, about two-thirds of participants with diabetes also had hypertension, and about a quarter of adults with hypertension had concurrent diabetes."
About a third of people with both high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes died during a median follow-up of about nine years, researchers found. (Median means half died sooner, half later.)
By comparison, 20% of those with only type 2 diabetes and 22% of those with only high blood pressure died. Just 6% of people with neither chronic health problem died.
Overall, the study concluded that:
Compared to having high blood pressure only, having both conditions increased risk of premature death from any cause by 66% and heart-related death by 54%.
Compared to having type 2 diabetes only, having both increased risk of premature death by 25% and more than doubled the risk of heart-related death.
"This underscores the urgent need for public health strategies to effectively prevent and manage these conditions and reverse these adverse trends," Makarem said.
More information
The American Diabetes Association has more on diabetes and high blood pressure.
Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
14 minutes ago
- The Hill
2.8M in US now identify as transgender: Research
Roughly 2.8 million Americans aged 13 and older identify as transgender, accounting for approximately 1 percent of the U.S. population in that age group, according to a new estimate from the Williams Institute, a research organization focused on sexual orientation and gender identity issues. About three-quarters of people who identify as transgender in the U.S. are under 35, according to the report published Wednesday, and 25 percent are between 13 and 17. Williams Institute researchers used data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) — public health surveys administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — and statistical modeling to estimate the population of trans adults and youth in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. About 2.1 million adults identify as transgender, accounting for approximately 0.8 percent of Americans aged 18 and older, according to Wednesday's report. Roughly 3.3 percent of 13 to 17-year-olds in the U.S., or 724,000, identify as transgender. 'Younger generations are more likely to identify as transgender, and we expect that trend to continue,' said Jody Herman, the report's lead author and a senior scholar at the Williams Institute. 'Youth and young adults are more likely to identify as transgender due to a variety of factors, including a greater willingness among younger individuals to disclose that they identify as transgender on surveys.' That finding is consistent with national surveys on LGBTQ identification. In a February Gallup poll, 23.1 percent of Gen Z said they identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or 'something other than heterosexual,' compared with 14.2 percent of Millennials and 5.1 percent of Gen X. The Williams Institute, affiliated with the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, has tracked the number of transgender people in the U.S. since at least 2011. In 2022, the group estimated that 1.6 million Americans identified as transgender. Most transgender people in the U.S. — about 279,000 — live in the South, according to Wednesday's report, consistent with previous years' findings. Around 175,000 transgender Americans live in the West; 156,000 in the Midwest and 114,000 in the Northeast, the Williams Institute found. Of all adults who identify as transgender, 33 percent are transgender women; 34 percent are transgender men and 33 percent are nonbinary, according to Wednesday's report. The group's estimate comes as President Trump's administration works to remove public health datasets and information from federal government websites about transgender people and identities. Affixed at the top of the CDC's webpage for the YRBSS, which the Williams Institute used in its calculation on Wednesday, is an advisory that 'Any information on this page promoting gender ideology is extremely inaccurate and disconnected from the immutable biological reality that there are two sexes, male and female.' 'The Trump Administration rejects gender ideology and condemns the harms it causes to children, by promoting their chemical and surgical mutilation, and to women, by depriving them of their dignity, safety, well-being, and opportunities,' the advisory reads. 'This page does not reflect biological reality and therefore the Administration and this Department rejects it.' Federal health agencies, including the CDC, were ordered to restore online datasets taken down after Trump issued an executive order in January prohibiting the government from promoting 'gender ideology.' Each of the restored webpages leads with notices condemning 'gender ideology.' The White House has also sought to remove questions about gender identity from national surveys on crime victimization and sexual violence. In February, former U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Santos told NPR that the bureau had moved to strike gender identity questions from several surveys it conducts because of Trump's Jan. 20 order. 'Federal datasets that include questions about sexual orientation and gender identity have provided critical information to researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and the public,' Andrew R. Flores, a distinguished visiting scholar at the Williams Institute and one of the authors of Wednesday's report, said in a statement. 'Removal of these questions from federal surveys — such as the BRFSS and the YRBS — would significantly hinder the ability of researchers to assess the health, experiences, and needs of transgender people in the United States.'
CNET
14 minutes ago
- CNET
Keep Your Eyes Healthy as You Age With These 10 Tips
Summer's bright and sunny days have come and gone but you still need to protect your eyes from the danger of UV rays. People are used to slathering on sunscreen to protect their skin, but what about protecting your eyes? We only get one pair of eyes, but protecting them isn't always top of mind. From overuse to UV rays, our eyes are at risk of damage every day. Thankfully, there are plenty of easy ways to help keep them healthy. 1. Wear sunglasses to block UV light Exposing your eyes to ultraviolet rays may cause damage over time. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, wearing sunglasses can block harmful UV light, lowering your risk of eye diseases like cataracts, sunburn, eye cancer and growths around the eye. Polarized glasses with smoke or gray lenses may offer the best protection against the sun's rays and reduce glare. Read more: Best Prescription Sunglasses 2. Take screen breaks every 20 minutes Prolonged screen time can cause dry eyes, pain in the neck and shoulders, blurred vision, headaches and digital eye strain, or computer vision syndrome. The American Optometric Association recommends using the 20-20-20 rule to prevent computer vision syndrome. Every 20 minutes, look at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. 3. Take book breaks, too Screen time isn't the only way to strain your eyes. You probably hold a book up close for long periods when you read it. Both activities can lead to nearsightedness, or myopia, which means faraway objects are blurry, while up-close objects are clear. Just like you should use the 20-20-20 rule to take screen breaks, you should also use this rule for book breaks. If you find yourself engrossed in what you're reading or doing on the computer, set an alarm so you don't miss your breaks.4. Move your body for both overall and eye health Regular exercise can provide eye health benefits, such as promoting healthy blood vessels and lowering your risk of developing glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, the American Academy of Ophthalmology reports. The CDC recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity every week, plus two days of strength training for your muscles. You can also practice eye exercises to reduce tension and eye strain while sitting at your desk. Read more: 7 Fitness Hacks to Sneak in Exercise Painlessly Every Day 5. Get outside as much as possible Children and adults need to get outside often, even if they get their recommended exercise indoors. Research shows that children who spend time outdoors have a lower risk of developing nearsightedness in adolescence and as adults. Playing with your kids at the local playground, walking through the woods or even playing in the backyard can help the whole family stay healthy and active. Be sure to use your sunglasses. 6. Quit smoking It's well known that smoking is bad for your health. It can also increase your risk of developing eye diseases like cataracts or age-related macular degeneration, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Smokers have a two- or three-times higher chance of developing cataracts and up to four times higher risk for AMD. Future research may determine if smoking cigarettes can also cause glaucoma, Graves' eye disease, thyroid eye disease and encourage diabetic retinopathy onset or progression. To improve your health, build a quit plan. Getty Images 7. Eat balanced meals rich in vitamins The foods you eat every day can improve your eye health. Eating foods rich in vitamins A, C and E, beta-carotene, omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zeaxanthin and zinc can help cellular growth, lower eye tissue inflammation and limit free radicals that can damage your eyes. To get the right nutrients for your eyes, eat balanced meals by including some of these foods in your regular diet, as recommended by the American Academy of Ophthalmology: Vitamin A and beta-carotene: Apricots, carrots, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, red pepper, ricotta cheese, mango Apricots, carrots, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, red pepper, ricotta cheese, mango Vitamin C: Grapefruit, oranges, lemons, tangerines, peaches, strawberries, tomatoes, red bell pepper Grapefruit, oranges, lemons, tangerines, peaches, strawberries, tomatoes, red bell pepper Vitamin E: Avocados, almonds, peanut butter, wheat germ, sunflower seeds Avocados, almonds, peanut butter, wheat germ, sunflower seeds Omega-3: Halibut, sardines, salmon, tuna, trout Halibut, sardines, salmon, tuna, trout Lutein and Zeaxanthin: Collards, broccoli, eggs, peas, kale, spinach, romaine lettuce, turnip greens Collards, broccoli, eggs, peas, kale, spinach, romaine lettuce, turnip greens Zinc: Lima beans, kidney beans, black-eyed peas, lean red meats, oysters, fortified cereals, poultry Read more: Best Vitamins and Supplements for Eye Health 8. Avoid rubbing your eyes Habitually rubbing your eyes could cause eye damage or infections. Dry eyes and eye strain can make you want to rub your eyes, and some may rub them too much or too hard. This can lead to issues such as reduced or blurry vision, headaches, inflammation and eye and light sensitivity. Another reason to avoid eye rubbing is that bacteria or viruses on your fingers or hands could lead to conjunctivitis, commonly called pink eye. Instead of rubbing your eyes, use eye drops or saline to clean your eyes and keep them moist. Resist the urge and find something else to keep your hands busy until you undo the habit. 9. Wash your hands before touching your face or eyes You should always wash your hands before touching your face or eyes and handling contact lenses. Almost 45 million Americans wear contact lenses, and around one in three wearers develop complications, with one in five infections from contact lenses causing corneal damage. Plus, there's no telling what germs might have already contaminated an object you've touched. The CDC reports that washing your hands regularly can lower your risk of respiratory illness by up to 20% and diarrheal illness by up to 30%. 10. Take off your makeup at the end of the day After a long day, the last thing you might think about is removing your eye makeup before you get into bed. Doing so benefits your eye health and can lower your risk of blepharitis or eyelid inflammation, according to the Optometrists Network. You should also adopt good makeup practices that can save your skin and eyes, such as only using products made for eyes, replacing your makeup often (especially after an eye infection), not applying eye makeup in the inner lids and never sharing eye makeup. If you use brushes or sponges to apply eye makeup, wash them regularly.
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Novo Nordisk Soars After 50% Ozempic Discount, Liver Treatment Approval
Cash truly is king. On Monday, shares in Novo Nordisk jumped 4% after the drugmaker announced that US customers who pay out-of-pocket will be able to buy its blockbuster diabetes drug Ozempic for less than half the list price. In a year of struggles against copycats, an emboldened chief rival and political pressure over high prices, executives are no doubt hoping the discount will prove a crowning achievement. READ ALSO: SoftBank Acquires a 2% Stake in Embattled Intel and Brokers Chafe Under Abrupt Expansion of Steel, Aluminum Tariffs A Letter from Washington Without insurance, Ozempic can set back US customers roughly $1,350 a month, or enough to rent a one-bedroom apartment in Kansas City (where the local barbecue might have you in need of a GLP-1 prescription). That hefty price tag has led to a bipartisan pushback in Washington, including from President Donald Trump, who sent a letter to Novo last month demanding executives lower prices for their company's treatments. Trump also urged drugmakers to develop direct-to-consumer sales models for their medicines. Americans spent $98 billion out of pocket on prescriptions last year, a 25% cumulative increase over five years, according to IQVIA, while a majority worry that prescription costs are unaffordable, according to KFF polling. Meanwhile, Novo has its own incentives to lower prices. For one, customers flocked to cheaper copycat drugs that exploded in popularity during a multi-year GLP-1 shortage, one that the FDA declared over earlier this year. And the company's chief rival in the GLP-1 space, Mounjaro- and Zepbound-maker Eli Lilly, has been binge-eating market share. Last month, the pressure prompted Novo to slash its sales and profit forecasts, prompting a massive selloff on Wall Street (shares are down 37% this year). On Monday, the company signalled it will defend its turf: Novo said cash-paying Americans can now buy Ozempic for $499 per month through its official website, its patient assistance program, its newly launched direct-to-consumer online pharmacy, or through discount telehealth platform GoodRx. The move follows Novo's decision to halve the price of weight-loss treatment Wegovy in March. Its price reductions follow similar cuts from Eli Lilly, which slashed the prices of both its weight loss and obesity GLP-1 drugs in March. David Ricks, Eli Lilly's CEO, said at the time that about 10% of the 1 million people who bought Zepbound did so from the company's website. MASHing Success: Monday's news came on the heels of a Friday victory for Novo, when Wegovy received FDA approval to treat metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a liver condition that affects roughly 5% of US adults, potentially opening up a market of millions of new customers. It was the first GLP-1 treatment to be approved for MASH, giving Novo a leg up against its biggest competitor. Rival Lilly, meanwhile, has run trials, inked deals and even made an acquisition earlier this year with an eye to rolling out MASH treatments. This post first appeared on The Daily Upside. To receive delivering razor sharp analysis and perspective on all things finance, economics, and markets, subscribe to our free The Daily Upside newsletter.
