Squatting amplifies pulse pressure increase with disease duration in patients with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate pulse pressure changes according to duration of type 1 diabetes and to assess the influence of posture. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We performed continuous measurement of blood pressure with a Finapres device during a 3 x 1 min posture test (standing, squatting, standing) in 159 type 1 diabetic patients divided into four groups according to diabetes duration (30 years, groups 1-4, respectively) and compared the results with those of age-matched nondiabetic subjects. RESULTS Pulse pressure progressively increased according to type 1 diabetes duration (P < 0.0001), especially in women, but not in age-matched nondiabetic subjects (NS). Pulse-pressure increase from group 1 to group 4 was amplified in the squatting position (from 50 +/- 17 to 69 +/- 14 mmHg) compared with standing (from 44 +/- 15 to 55 +/- 12 mmHg). CONCLUSIONS Pulse pressure increases according to type 1 diabetes duration more in women than in men, and the squatting position sensitizes such pulse-pressure increase in both sexes.